Bancroft to manage construction of new Sussex charter school
Bancroft Construction and Sussex Montessori School have announced that work has begun on Phase I of construction for the free public charter school, which is structured on collaborative and personalized learning experiences. With few educational opportunities for elementary school students of its kind in Sussex County, the school will open in the fall of 2020 and initially serve grades K-3.
Bancroft Project Executive Rob Jadick said, “Bancroft is very excited to be part of the Sussex Montessori team. We are excited for the City of Seaford and for the entire Sussex County area, but most of all for the children who will be entering this historic first class of students this fall.”
The new school will be constructed on the former Wheaton property on Dairy Lane in Seaford and will be open to any Delaware resident, per state charter school mandate. Construction of Phase I will include 10 new classrooms configured into two separate buildings along with support areas.
Renovations to the property include re-purposing the farmhouse to provide a nurses’ area as well as a renovation of the apartment structure to provide space for food distribution and toilet facilities. Phase I of the Sussex Montessori project will include installation of new water and sewer services to the property and an upgrade of electrical service and establishment of service. Phase I of construction will be completed by mid-June. Other members of the design team include Montchanin Design Group and Baker Ingram & Associates.
In November 2019, Sen. Tom Carper along with the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development announced a $7.6 million USDA Rural Development long-term loan to the future Montessori School. PNC Bank will provide short-term financing. With the investment from PNC Bank and the USDA, Sussex Montessori is investing in the education of future generations of students. Sussex Montessori School is a project of Montessori Works, DE, whose mission is to expand accessible Montessori Education in Delaware.
“We are very excited about building a beautiful, inviting campus for our families, and we want all Delaware families to know that they are welcomed here, and we are committed to helping our children become great leaders in our community,” said Lisa Coldiron, who serves as head of school.
Bancroft Construction Company is a full-service construction management, general contracting, design-build, preconstruction, virtual design, and program management firm serving the Mid-Atlantic region with offices in Wilmington and Princeton, N.J. Go to www.bancroftconstruction.com for more information.
