“This is a historic occasion,” Superintendent Daphne Bowers said, noting that the district purchased the 57 acre property on May 13, 1970, with the intent to construct a new school building.

“Ground was broken in 1971 for the stadium project only,” she said.

Independent facility studies were undertaken by separate, independent professional organizations in 1969, 1991, 1997 and 2022, “all coming to the same conclusion that the most economical and

educationally sound decision for the future of our school district is to build a new school on this property,” Bowers said.

Members of Montgomery School Board and other members of the school administration gather at the community center in Montgomery for a ground breaking of what will be the site of the new high school Tuesday afteroon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

With the declining state of the current Junior/Senior High School building, Bowers stressed that short term “bandages,” were not effective for building stability or cost effective for taxpayers.

“Quality school buildings facilitate quality education. PParents want to purchase homes in quality school districts. Houses in desirable districts enjoy increased property values, benefiting all property owners,” Bowers told those gathered.

She then thanked members of the 2022 steering committee, as well as members past and present of the district’s school board, all of whom she said were instrumental in bringing the project to fruition.

“The many meetings, studying, programming, financing, current facilities, once again concluded with the fact that in order for our school district to continue to provide high quality programs to meet the needs of all students, whatever it takes, was to build a new facility,” Bowers said, noting that while the decision to persue the facility was an easy one, seeing it through to the end took a new resolve.

“The last few years have not been easy, but this community has a school board committed to following through with the researched plan for improvement of our whole school environment,” she stressed.

“This is a proud moment for our community and our students,” Bowers concluded her statement.

Dr. Joseph Stoudt, who will assume the role of district superintendent on July 1, called the occasion, “a truly special day for our community.”

For years, we’ve envisioned a new high school, a place where future generations can grow, learn and thrive. Today, standing here, that dream starts to become a reality,” he said.

“This isn’t just about bricks and mortar. It’s about laying the foundation for countless bright futures. It’s about creating a modern, inspiring environment that will foster innovation, critical thinking and a lifelong love of learning,” Stoudt said.

“This school will be a symbol of our collective commitment to the education and well being of our children. I am incredibly excited about the journey ahead and all the wonderful things we will accomplish within these future walls,” he said.

“This has been a long, drawn out process, 10 years in the making,” said board President Paul Stryker, noting the many long hours and meetings that went into it.

“This is a solemn ceremony where we can see this final stage take place in our groundbreaking of the new junior/senior high school,” he said.

“I want to commend the administration and the board for their passion and their dedication to this community and for the education of the students in this district,” said Paul Taylor, director of Educational Services for Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates, with whom the district will work to get the new building constructed.

The new building is expected to be ready for the 2027-28 school year.