The Marshalltown (Iowa) Community School District is giving the 100-year-old Miller Middle School a $106 million makeover.
KDSM-TV reports that the planned upgrade will modernize the school's auditorium and create larger classrooms for the 800 students.
“Probably 20 percent or so of the building will be brand new and the other 75 to 80 percent will look like new,” said Theron Schutte, the superintendent of Marshalltown schools.
A second gymnasium will be created, and a new common area will cover the front of the building.
While changes are being planned, Schutte said the district’s goal is to still honor the building’s history, which has served as a high school, a community college and a junior high school before becoming a middle school.
“We definitely want to preserve as much of the history,” said Schutte. "A lot of it will be more visible internally than externally as it is now, but that has been a priority, to respect the past history of this 100-year-old building."
Construction at Miller Middle School will be completed in phases so that it doesn’t disrupt the school year. The district is hoping to start in April or May 2026, and it will likely take three years until the last phase of construction is complete.
