New Renderings of Phase 1 Schools Unveiled for 2024 Referendum

MMSD continues to make steady progress on its Phase 1 projects, advancing planning, design and early construction work while preparing for formal groundbreakings on March 20, 2026. The schedule is as follows:

• 10:30–11:45 a.m. at Sherman Middle School / Shabazz City High School
• 1:15–2:30 p.m. at Black Hawk Middle School / Gompers Elementary School

Phase 1 projects include replacement of the buildings that house Sherman Middle School and Malcolm Shabazz City High School and Samuel Gompers Elementary School and Black Hawk Middle School. Work at each site is focused on modernizing learning environments, improving safety and accessibility, and supporting long-term sustainability.

“As we move closer to construction, our focus remains on delivering high-quality facilities that reflect the needs of students, staff and the broader community,” said Scott Chehak, MMSD senior executive director of building services. “This work represents years of planning and community input, and we are excited to see these projects begin to take shape.”

Updated renderings for the Phase 1 schools are as follows:

The projects remain on time and on budget. So far, MMSD has invested more than $6.7 million in referendum-related work across the district. Spending by site includes:

• Sherman Middle School/Malcolm Shabazz City High School: $2,510,790.19
• Samuel Gompers Elementary School/Black Hawk Middle School: $2,029,780.33
• Orchard Ridge Elementary School/Akira R. Toki Middle School: $492,039.29
• Ray F. Sennett Middle School: $403,697.05
• Cherokee Heights Middle School: $358,104.89

These investments support early planning, site preparation, design development and project management as work advances across both phases of the referendum.

“Careful stewardship of taxpayer dollars is central to this work,” Chehak said. “We are committed to transparency, fiscal responsibility and making sure each project delivers lasting value for students and neighborhoods.”

This week, MMSD held three public input sessions to engage the community and gather feedback on proposed improvements for Phase 2 referendum project sites, including Orchard Ridge Elementary/Akira R. Toki Middle School, Cherokee Heights Middle School and Ray F. Sennett Middle School.

Additional information about MMSD’s facilities referendum projects, including timelines and design updates, is available on the district’s website.