Darlington To Break Ground On New Middle School
This week, Darlington School’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to break ground on a new Middle School facility this June. This means the new building will be open for business in August of 2009, further supporting Darlington’s mission to challenge students to learn with passion, act with integrity and serve with respect.
On March 4, Darlington kicked off its historic $90 Second Century Campaign which focuses on several areas of need, including a new Middle School facility, technology and equipment, endowment for the Learning Center, faculty support endowment, improvements to boys’ houses, campus buildings and maintenance, financial aid endowment, annual giving and planned gifts. To date, the school has already raised $54 million to be used in several areas.
According to a letter from Headmaster Tom Whitworth and Board Chairman John Irby (’81), the new Middle School facility will be the first visible sign of the campaign’s success, and a true testimony of Darlington’s dedication to students and teachers. The facility will feature a wireless state-of-the-art library/media center, commons area, band room, music instruction area and a spacious cafeteria. In addition, the building will be highly energy efficient and in harmony with the natural environment.
“While our fundraising efforts for the new facility have been enormously successful with over $15.5 million raised, we are still $5.2 million short of our $21 million goal for the Middle School project,” Whitworth said. “The Board of Trustees feels it is important that we move forward with construction in order to keep costs true to our original estimates, and with the powerful momentum we have already seen in the early stages of this campaign, we have full confidence in the Darlington Community that our goal will be met over the next several months.
The commitment and enthusiasm of our parents, alumni, faculty, staff and friends give us the opportunity to rally together and make Darlington the best it can be for our current students and for generations to come.”
To learn more about Darlington’s Second Century Campaign, please visit http://www.darlingtonschool.org/development/campaign.aspx.
