A groundbreaking ceremony is slated for June 9 for the new #MiddletownRI Middle High School. Drop in at 10 am to celebrate the project and what it means for the entire community. Visit School for more.
NEW SCHOOL GROUNDBREAKING CELEBRATION SET FOR JUNE 9
MIDDLETOWN, RI (MAY 15, 2025) – A groundbreaking celebration for the new Middletown Middle High School will be June 9.
The ceremony is scheduled to start at 10 am overlooking the construction site on the northern side of Gaudet Middle School. June 11 is the rain date — if necessary.
Students, educators and those involved with bringing the new school together said there’s a growing sense of excitement about moving the project to the next phase — and all the good that’s on the horizon.
With construction expected to start in coming days, the new 211,000-square-foot building is scheduled to open in time for the 2027-2028 school year.
When work is completed, the state-of-the-art building will be home to the first combined middle-high school in Rhode Island.
“We’re a school district that’s on the rise and this building is one of the centerpieces,” School Committee Chair Greg Huet said. “If you look at what’s happening now in terms of our facilities, our curriculum, our energy and passion, everything is pointing in the right direction.”
“When I visited the schools in Massachusetts, I was absolutely blown away, particularly Saugus,” Town Council President Paul M. Rodrigues said. “The opportunities that those schools create for their students and those communities is unbelievable and there was a real sense of pride. From that moment, I was sold that this was the right thing to do for Middletown.”
Superintendent Billy Niemeyer will serve as Master of Ceremony for the groundbreaking.
“I’ve been saying for a while now that you can feel the excitement building for this project,” Niemeyer said. “So much hard work has gone into this effort and I know this should be a game changer for our schools and our community on so many levels.”
Attendees and dignitaries were asked to park on the Turner Road side of Gaudet, where there will be plenty of spaces.
The groundbreaking will be on field space to the west of the Gaudet outdoor basketball courts, which are not part of the construction site.
Colliers Project Leaders of Providence serves as the project manager, with Gilbane of Providence serving as the construction manager. HMFH of Cambridge, Massachusetts are working with DBVW Architects of Providence as the project architects.
“There’s a deep sense of pride seeing the school come together,” School Building Committee Chair Ed Brady said. “I want to thank everyone on the School Building Committee personally who’s dedicated countless hours to this project and making sure everything is done once and done right.”
The way the project is being handled, there will be no interruptions for normal operations for students and staff at Gaudet and the Gaudet Learning Academy.
Construction is generally slated for weekdays from 7 am-4 pm and Saturdays on an as needed basis.
All construction vehicles will use the former Starlight Drive-In driveway across from Park Drive so school traffic wasn’t impacted. Visit https://mdl.town/NYCU-Plan for more details.
“I’ve always said that if the schools look good, we all look good,” Town Administrator Shawn J. Brown said. “It’s not about a building, but what happens with our teachers and educators. A building is one tool that they use to change lives in a positive, meaningful way. I’ve seen it in my own life, with my children and in our town.”
The new school is at the heart of a detailed, robust plan to remake the entire school district.
The combined middle-high school was approved by voters in November 2023 to maximize efficiencies, save on costs and deliver the biggest bang for the buck with the new building.
The existing Middletown High School building at 130 Valley Road will be remade into a grade 2-5 learning center as part of the plan as well as the new offices for school administration and maintenance staff.
At the Forest Avenue School around the corner, that facility will be remade into a prekindergarten through first grade early childhood academy.
There is also a separate proposal to make the Aquidneck School on Reservoir Road into a community center, a first for the town.
Updates on the school project are provided at almost every regular council meeting. The volunteer School Building Committee guiding the project meets every other Wednesday to make sure everything remains on track. Visit https://mdl.town/NewSchool for more.
“I was brought in to help oversee and manage all our buildings — including the new school — under one umbrella,” Shared Facilities Director Ed Collins said. “This is all part of a well-conceived plan to make sure we get the most life out of each of our buildings and maximize each dollar we spend on them. It’s been a great process to be apart of and it’s exciting to move into the next phase.”
Document Link: https://mdl.town/NYCU-Groundbreaking
About Middletown
The Town of Middletown is a vibrant municipality located on Aquidneck Island, known for its scenic beauty, historic landmarks, diverse economy and strong sense of community. For more information about all we have to offer, visit MiddletownRI.gov online.
Media Contact
Matt Sheley
Public Affairs Officer
401-842-6543
msheley@middletownri.gov