It's official. With a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday, work is ready to start on Meridian Public School's first new building to be built within forty years.

District officials and community leaders turned the dirt for the new 9th Grade Academy, located on the campus of Meridian High School. The plan was a cornerstone for passage of a school bond issue.

"We're one of the only schools in this state that the 9th graders are not located at the high school," said Meridian School Board president Fred Wile. "That has been also a problem because the transition out of 8th grade is often where you see a lot of dropouts. So, this is going to be an opportunity to have a 9th Grade Academy, you might call it, where there's special attention given to kids as they transition to high school, and actually more opportunity."

Once finished the new 9th Grade Academy building will almost mirror the main building on campus. It's located in what was once a popular wooded area known as, "The Grove". School officials say although "The Grove" was important, what's being gained by cutting the trees is greater than the loss.

"You know, we cut down trees for new buildings or hotels or whatever. So, if we have to sacrifice some for improvements, how better to do it than to do it for kids?" said principal Vickie Hood.

If nothing changes, 460 freshmen are expected to attend classes at the $9/5 million facility in the fall of 2009.

Meanwhile, district officials say when this upcoming school year ends, Kate Griffin Junior High School will close. In turn the district is going to establish three schools for students sixth through eighth grades. The schools that will be affected by this are: Carver Middle School, Northwest Junior High School and Magnolia Middle School.

Once the new building is finished, district officials say driving on the campus will be virtually eliminated. It will be pedestrian-friendly, much like a college campus.

"When you drive down 23rd Avenue, you're going to see the high school, how it was when it was 'the high school'," said retiring superintendent Sylvia Autry. "So, it's getting there again."