Marion County Public Schools is set to break ground Tuesday morning on what will become the next chapter for Lake Weir Middle School, a project that trades aging infrastructure for a clean slate and a larger footprint.
The ceremony is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on April 7 at 685 Oak Road in Ocala, where a 30-acre greenfield site will soon give way to a three-story, 141,000-square-foot campus designed to serve more than 1,400 students. The $63 million replacement school is expected to open in August 2027.
Construction is being led by Skanska, with architectural design by PBK, as district leaders continue a broader push to modernize facilities across Marion County.
The groundbreaking program will include remarks from School Board Chair Dr. Sarah James, Superintendent Dr. Danielle Brewer, and Lake Weir Middle School Principal Dr. Brian Greene, along with participation from current LWMS students. State and federal representation is also expected, including U.S. Representative Randy Fine, Florida House Member Ryan Chamberlin, and a representative from U.S. Senator Ashley Moody’s office.
Additional comments will come from Ocala CEP President Matt McCormick, with closing remarks from School Board Vice-Chair Lori Conrad.
The event will also feature performances by the Lake Weir Middle School Band and the Lake Weir High School JROTC Color Guard.
The ceremony is open to the public, offering a first look at a project that, for now, exists on paper and promise, but by 2027 is expected to stand as one of the district’s newest campuses.
