On Thursday, May 8, 2025, under sunny skies and a spirit of celebration, Culpeper County Public Schools (CCPS) hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Culpeper Middle School (CMS) renovation project. The event marked a milestone in the county’s commitment to providing modern, future-ready learning spaces for its students.
The program began at noon with welcoming remarks from Division Superintendent Dr. Tony Brads. Brads acknowledged the significance of the project not only for the students and staff of Culpeper Middle School, but for the entire community.
In attendance were all seven members of the Culpeper County School Board, four members of the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors, County Clerk Kim Ellis, and County Administrator Sam McLearen. Their presence reflected the strong collaboration between local government and the school division in advancing educational excellence.
Also in attendance and recognized at the event were Chris Venable and Taylor Terrill from Spectrum Design, the architectural and engineering firm, and Sandy Hall, Matt Truschel, and Michael Truschel from Taft Construction, the general contractor.
Following the recognition of special guests, Brads introduced the day’s first speaker, Sam McLearen, Culpeper County Administrator. McLearen spoke of the power of community partnerships, “It takes a lot of planning to get to this point…and one of the most exciting things about partnerships is that we have a local partner in Taft Construction to work with us,” he said. In closing, he said, “Our kids are the future…and that is where the investment should be, and I am proud to say that I am a part of investing in the future for the kids of Culpeper.”
Following McLearen, Brads introduced Rob Hauman, CCPS Executive Director of Instruction. Hauman said, “Today marks more than just a construction project, it represents the commitment to our students, our educators and our community.” Hauman noted that Culpeper Middle School has been a part of generations of people in our community since its opening in 1977. He noted that our educational learning spaces must evolve as the world around us evolves. “These renovations are not just about bricks and mortar, they are about creating modern, inspiring spaces that reflect today’s vision for teaching and learning.” He also noted that the renovations were a commitment to our students, letting them know how much they matter and that we believe in their potential.
The final speaker on the program was Jesse Blackburn, Principal of Culpeper Middle School. Blackburn highlighted the pivotal moment being recognized with the turning of the soil at CMS. He said that this is a “transformative project that will redefine the learning experience for generations to come.” He highlighted key features of the project, including 40,000 square feet of new construction and 180,000 square feet of renovations to ensure that students have access to state of the art learning environments. He extended gratitude to the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors, the Culpeper County School Board, Dr. Brads and the CCPS team, Spectrum Design and Taft Construction.
Brads concluded the ceremony by recognizing CCPS Project Manager Hunter Spencer, who worked on the original construction of CMS, his very first project when he was starting his career, and now, he has agreed to return and lead CCPS through the renovation project. After Brads’ closing remarks, there was a symbolic and spirited “turning of the soil” shared by school leaders, elected officials, construction and engineering partners, and the CMS administrative team.
More information about the CMS renovation project will be added to their web page in the coming weeks so that the community will have an opportunity to follow the progress of the project. The project will be an occupied renovation, completed in three phases, with the final phase to be completed prior to the start of the 2027–2028 school year.
Hauman summed it up nicely by saying, “Let this groundbreaking be the beginning of the next chapter for CMS, one defined by progress, innovation, and opportunity. Together, we are not just dressing up an old building, we are creating a space where students will be inspired, empowered, and educated for success.”
