Last steel beam placed for New Sussex Central High School

SUSSEX COUNTY, Del. – State, County and School officials all say that Sussex County is a growing community where many people from out of state are moving to, and now, the last steel beam for the foundation of the new Sussex Central High School is in place after about two years of planning and construction.

The growing community has caused overcrowding within one of the schools, specifically Sussex Central High School, and caused a need for expansion for students to have a proper education.

Assistant Principal Karen Oliphant says, “we are over capacity in our building.”

“The hallways are crowded. It was the need of the growth in the community.”

With school faculty and lawmakers signing the last beam before it is placed on the foundation of the new Sussex Central High School, Teachers and school staff are excited to see a solution for the crowded hallways of the current school, including Superintendent Jay Owens.

“Our current school serves about 1500 students.”

“This will serve around 2200,” Owens said. “So this gives us a lot more space for our growing number of students.”

Owens says the school has been working with the department of education and local officials to secure the funding for the state of the art facility.

“We need to grow with our community. Our community is expanding so we want to make sure our schools expand with our community.”

Even Delaware’s State Senator, Dave Wilson, agrees that this expansion was well needed.

“This area is growing so much that they definitely need more space.”

“When you get to the lower part of the state, we just seem to forget a lot of times that we still have students coming and needs for them and classroom size are adequate.”

Superintendent Owens also said with the new facility, each department at the school was able to be molded to fit each of their individual needs.