TOLEDO, Ohio — Toledo City Council on Wednesday approved a permit for Washington Local Schools to build a new middle school.
Whitmer Middle School, a replacement for both Jefferson and Washington junior high schools, will start construction on Quast Lane in west Toledo this summer and is expected to open in the fall of 2026.
"We've got to hit the ground running right now in terms of developing plans for how to improve the infrastructure around the site," said council member Sam Melden. "That's a big concern of neighbors. I hear those concerns, and we're working on it right now."
Kadee Anstadt, WLS superintendent says the new school will be a game changer for the district and hopes it will bring more opportunities for kids to learn more about careers and get them excited to come to class.
"We believe that bringing our sixth, seventh and eighth (grades) together will really make a difference in achievement and in growth and just the happiness of our kids. We believe it'll improve attendance and we're just really excited to get this going," she said.
The $73 million project is being funded by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission.
Designs for the Whitmer Middle School are underway and the district hopes to start construction in the coming months.
"We hope in June we'll be beginning to move some dirt around and we're really excited to plan for an August groundbreaking," Anstadt said.
Melden said council's approval of the permit is important for education in the city.
"I think any time you can improve the infrastructure that our children use, it's really profound and meaningful," he said. But I also think investing in children's education always has to be a priority of bodies like Toledo City Council."