Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks Historic Beginning for Freedom Middle School
![Dr. Cheeseman and Mrs. Walston-Moore at FMS groundbreaking]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1772142242/cravenk12org/ixxcm7a2buxfhlyk4evc/BOEGroundBreaking.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1772142242/cravenk12org/ixxcm7a2buxfhlyk4evc/BOEGroundBreaking.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1772142242/cravenk12org/ixxcm7a2buxfhlyk4evc/BOEGroundBreaking.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1772142242/cravenk12org/ixxcm7a2buxfhlyk4evc/BOEGroundBreaking.png","width":1032}])
On Tuesday, February 17th, Craven County Schools celebrated a historic milestone as community leaders, staff, students, and elected officials gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony of the future Freedom Middle School on the Tucker Creek Middle School campus.
The ceremony marked the official start of an exciting new chapter as students from Tucker Creek Middle School and Havelock Middle School prepare to come together to form Freedom Middle School, a unified campus designed to serve generations of students in the Havelock community.
The event featured participation from students representing both middle schools, symbolizing the unity and shared future that this new school represents. Attendees heard remarks from Superintendent Dr. Matthew Cheeseman, Board of Education Chairman Mr. Lee Kirkman, Board of Education Member Ms. Darlene Gibbs, Craven County Commissioner Chairman Denny Bucher, and Adam Owens, representative of the North Carolina Lottery. Numerous elected officials and community leaders were also on-site to witness the historic occasion.
The name Freedom Middle School, recently approved by the Board of Education, reflects both a new beginning for middle school families and a meaningful connection to the Havelock community, long known for the “Sound of Freedom” associated with Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point.
This project has been made possible through significant support from the North Carolina Lottery and the continued partnership and investment of the Craven County Board of Commissioners. Their contributions ensure that students will benefit from modernized facilities designed to support innovative teaching and learning.
The groundbreaking ceremony symbolizes more than construction progress; it represents possibility. Freedom Middle School will be a place where young minds grow, friendships are formed, talents are discovered, and futures are shaped.
With construction underway, the district looks forward to hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony in August to welcome students for the start of the 2027–2028 school year.
Craven County Schools extends sincere appreciation to the many individuals and partners who collaborated to turn this vision into reality. The future of middle school education in the Havelock community is bright, and Freedom Middle School stands as a testament to what can be accomplished when a community works together.