T-R PHOTO BY MICHAEL D. DAVIS South Tama County Superintendent John Cain and other administrators throw some dirt during a groundbreaking ceremony at the former Iowa Juvenile Home in Toledo, which will eventually become the new STC Middle School.

TOLEDO — At 4 p.m. on Tuesday, several people braved the rays of the sun, meeting in a sweaty group on the north side of the old Iowa Juvenile Home. It was the ceremonial groundbreaking for South Tama’s brand new middle school.

After beginning with some words from South Tama Superintendent John Cain, the ceremony moved along rather quickly due to the heat. Cain remarked on the unpleasant weather, noting that South Tama’s Middle school staff and students had to suffer without air conditioning for only a little while longer. The school is projected to be completed by the summer of 2025.

Garling Construction is contracted for $25,669,000 to complete the work in this next phase. For what has seemed like a long journey, this Tuesday was a big step forward towards having a middle school the communities that make up the STC district can take pride in well into the future.