Today was a special day for Wayne County Public Schools and Wayne County Government, with a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Rosewood Middle! Elected officials, dignitaries, invited guests, local leaders, and members of the public made the groundbreaking a historic event.
“This has been a long process and I did not want this moment to pass without acknowledging the District 4 representatives who came before us to help bring this project to fruition, including Board of Education member Jennifer Strickland and Board of Commissioners member, Freeman Hardison,” states Wayne County Board of Education Chair/District 4 representative, Willie “Bill” Joyner, II. “I would also like to thank Representative John Bell and our other local legislative delegation members from Raleigh, Senator Jim Perry and Representative Jimmy Dixon, who were all instrumental in helping Wayne County secure the funding for the Rosewood community for a new Rosewood Middle School.
Wayne County has received more than $25 million in grant funding through various state allocations for the construction of this school.
“Today’s groundbreaking represents more than the start of a construction project — it is an investment in the future of Wayne County’s children and communities,” states Wayne County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman, Barbara Aycock. “We are excited to see this long-awaited project becoming a reality for Rosewood families and future generations. We are especially grateful to Representative Bell and our legislative delegation for fighting for Wayne County and helping bring this plan to fruition.”
Background:
To preserve the history of the Rosewood campus, the new two-story school is being built on the same site as the original century old school. The existing gymnasium and a newer classroom building on site will be updated as part of the project. It is important to note that the new Rosewood Middle School will be able to accommodate approximately 560 students. It will also have energy efficient HVAC systems, upgraded furniture and technology, and advanced safety and security features. The $38 million school will be completed in Fall of 2026.