WEST PORTSMOUTH — The public is invited to join Washington-Nile School District as the school dedicates its new Portsmouth West Middle School building on Sunday, Aug. 14.

The current middle school building was built as the high school in 1968. Twenty years later, a new high school was built and the middle school moved into its old place. By 2007, the aging building had become so worn-out the Ohio School Facilities Commission agreed to fund 98 percent of the new middle school construction and demolition of the existing building as a special needs project. The remaining two percent was taken from the district’s general fund, so voters would not be asked to support a tax levy.

Ground was broken on the new building in late spring 2009, directly behind the high school and elementary school buildings. The existing middle school building was sold in April to Bobby Evans for $60,000.

The new Portsmouth West Middle School is located on the school campus, along U.S. 52 in West Portsmouth. The building is 68,000 square feet, and cost $16 million. It will include grades 5-8.

The dedication of the new building will be Sunday, Aug. 14, at 2 p.m.

RYAN SCOTT OTTNEY can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 235, or rottney@heartlandpublications.com.