Milford Mill Academy Gets Facelift

BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- A Baltimore County school gets a much needed facelift. School leaders cut the ribbon on a 4,800-foot addition to Milford Mill Academy.

Christie Ileto gives us a tour of the newly renovated school.

It used to be the old gym, but now it's nearly a dozen new classrooms at Milford Mill Academy.

After three years of construction, school leaders showed off the 4,800 square foot addition to the school.

"It's bringing Milford Mill into the 21st century," said Roderick Harden Sr., principal.

And for students, the upgrades are encouraging.

"Now that we have the renovations, it's motivated us to just start new," said Taylor Drummond, student.

Prior to the renovation, the school -- built more than six decades ago -- was outdated and had limited space.  Now, it stands solid with a new gym, additional classrooms and cosmetology labs for a growing student population and updated heating and cooling units at the tune of $36 million.

"When I say $36 million, folks on paper just see air and upgrades.  I look at upgrades to the existing programs: the cosmetology lab, a new gymnasium, things that keep kids in school," said Dallas Dance, superintendent.

The school is home to 1,500 students. The contractors say the biggest challenge throughout construction was not disrupting day-to-day academics of the students.

"Now that we have them, we appreciate them more, and we should take advantage of the things that we have now," said Drummond.

This is the third construction project at the school in its more than 60-year history.  The last renovation was in 1992.