The public is invited to a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Sierra Madre Middle School at 160 N. Canon Avenue Thursday at 5 p.m.
Construction on the new school began in July but the ceremony will be the public celebration of process and will include Pasadena Unified officials, students, teachers and parents.
The $27 million project will have 20 classrooms, a multipurpose room, music rooms, computer lab, library, administration area, atrium and other features and will serve 600-650 students, according to a PUSD press release.
The school's construction is being funded from the 2008 bond measure (Measure TT) passed by district voters.
The project hit a few bumps along the way to being approved by the board, with the school delaying the construction of the middle school in January after bids for the project came in way over budget.
The district had originally slated $38 million for the project but cut back the construction budget in the summer of 2012 after not receiving anticipated state funds.
A contract for the project was finally approved in June. Construction is expected to take 20 months.
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