The South Portland (Maine) district is consolidating students into one middle school

Construction is underway on a $69.3 million middle school in South Portland, Maine, that will replace two existing campuses.

The Portland Press Herald reports that the school will replace Memorial and Mahoney middle schools.

The new school is expected to serve 850 to 900 students. The design will separate grades 5 and 6 from grades 7 and 8,

Building features will include a geothermal heating system, rooftop solar panels, increased classroom space for the district’s music program and a larger gym and multipurpose room. The state also has agreed to pay for $350,000 in pedestrian and traffic improvements close to the building site.

Voters approved the project in November 2019. The state is funding $59.3 million of the cost and $10 million will come from local funds. The project also will include renovation of the school department’s transportation facility and the relocation of its central receiving and facilities office.

The school is expected to open in 2023.