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Rock Island School District Breaks Ground on New Administration Building

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Michelle O'Neill

Officials from the Rock Island Milan School District plus members of the design and construction team started digging with shiny, new shovels this morning.

Dr. Reginald Lawrence (L) speaks during the groundbreaking before introducing Mayor Mike Thoms (R)
Michelle O'Neill
School board VP, Michael Matherly
Michelle O'Neill

But next week, a crew from Bush Construction will really begin the $7.6 million project. The land is located on 7th Avenue at 20th Street. Legat Architects designed the one-story building.

Superintendent Reginald Lawrence says 15,000 sq. ft. will become office space, 15,000 sq. ft. will be used as a warehouse, and a new, 5,000 square foot production kitchen will serve the entire district. That's 14 buildings and 6,200 students.

Currently, all the meals are prepared in the old Lincoln School.

Michael Matherly is the Vice President of the Board of Education. He thanked all the partners of the project, plus all the residents of Rock Island and Rock Island County for approving the 1% local sales tax that's paying for the new administration building.

The new Rock Island Milan school administration building will replace offices located in a building that's more than 100 years old. (See photo below.)

Current administration building for the Rock Island Milan School District
Michelle O'Neill

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Officially, Michelle's title for 28 years was WVIK News Editor. She did everything there is to do in the newsroom and whatever was needed around the radio station. She also served as Acting News Director from September 2023 - January 2024.