Renton School Board members have approved a timeline to construct a new middle school on the site of  the current Renton Academy (formerly the old Hazelwood Elementary School) in the north end of the district at 6928 116th Ave. S.E., Newcastle.

The new school, which will be the district’s fourth middle school, was made possible by overwhelming voter support of an April 2012 bond measure which also includes improvements at many other schools across the district.

The construction plan calls for the sixth through eighth grade middle school to open in the fall of 2016, which would accommodate students currently in second through fourth grades. Demolition of  the old school is scheduled for June 2014. Prior to that, the district will relocate the Renton Academy program to another district site.

Construction on the new school is planned to begin March 2015.

Planning for the school has begun as district staff work with architects and engineers on preliminary zoning and code issues, site surveys and geotechnical engineering, and preparing education specifications to include the number of classrooms and other learning spaces, common areas, gym, lunchroom and more.

The district is also working with school principals to form a parent-staff committee to create enrollment boundaries for the new school. Boundary work should be concluded in February 2013. Community presentations will be planned to show the design of the school when that work is ready. Parents and community members will also be engaged in naming the school.