By Hayleigh Gowans

Staff Writer

After about two years of construction and displacement of students, middle schoolers in the East Syracuse Minoa School District will be able to begin their new year with a fresh start. The rededication ceremony of Pine Grove Middle School was held on Aug. 24 at 6318 Fremont Road in East Syracuse to officially re-open the facility and signify the beginning of a new school year.

“This is all about the students,” said Pine Grove Principal Douglas Mohorter, an ESM alumnus. “It will create a safe, healthy learning environment for our students so they can excel in their education and time here as a Spartan.”

In December 2012, voters approved a referendum that allowed the school district to spend $29.4 million to renovate approximately 118,000 square feet of the building and add about 12,000 square feet to the building that was originally built in 1969. A groundbreaking for the project was held in August 2014, and while the construction was occurring, students were placed in other facilities with the sixth graders remaining in the elementary schools, seventh graders being housed in a temporary location in Minoa and eighth graders moving to a wing in the high school. Some needed updates such as plumbing, electrical and mechanical system were upgraded, hallways and staircases were expanded to improve student flow and the school was made to be more energy efficient.

One aspect of the new middle school is that is now supports a learning model that gives each grade level a “learning commons” that will provide flexible learning space for collaboration in both small and large groups, said Mohorter.

The newly renovated building also includes an updated fitness equipment facility, new band and chorus rooms, new technology workshops equipped with the latest technology (such as 3D printers), a new “Spartan Arena” gym area and a new Family and Consumer Science room with equipment and new cooking stations. One significant addition to the middle school is the Community Café Performing Arts Center that includes a stage for students to perform on, accommodate events and will also serve as the new dining facility.

“This building truly a learning facility of the 21st century,” said ESM Superintendent Donna DeSiato.

At the ribbon cutting, local dignitaries, the board of education, representative from businesses and employees of the district that worked to successfully completing the project were present, along with hundreds of students and their families.

The ESM Spartan Marching Band provided live music for the event and the color guard performed. All who attended the event were invited to take a guided tour of the building.

DeSiato said about 72 percent of the project was supported by state building aid, and the project was delivered within budget and in the time frame as originally presented to by voters.

“This project would not have turned out the success it was without the support of so many in the community,” said DeSiato.

The first day of school for the Pine Grove Middle School students will be Tuesday, Sept. 6.