Shovels hit the dirt Wednesday in Portage as Portage Public Schools broke ground on a new Amberly Elementary School, the middle piece of an ambitious plan to replace aging classrooms with modern facilities.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place at 6637 Amberly Street, where the current school has served students since the 1960s. District officials unveiled renderings of the new building, which will feature air conditioning throughout and other modern amenities the existing facility lacks.
"The district is in a great position to open three new elementary schools in three consecutive years starting with Woodland opening in 2027, Amberly in 2028, and Angling Road in 2029. We are grateful to our community for its continued support," said Russ Gerbers, assistant superintendent of operations, according to a district release.
A $307 Million Building Program
The Amberly project is part of what district leaders call a three-schools-in-three-years construction plan. The effort is funded by two voter-approved bonds:
- A $175 million bond passed in 2021
- A $132.4 million bond passed by voters in November 2025
The original plan was announced in 2020 with a $175 million budget to replace five elementary schools and renovate another. Inflation from the COVID-19 pandemic pushed costs higher, requiring the additional bond approval last fall.
Two new schools have already opened under the program:
- Central Elementary School opened in fall 2025 at a cost of $40.8 million
- Haverhill Elementary School opened in fall 2025 at a cost of $35.1 million
Construction Timeline
According to district officials and WKZO reporting from the bond announcement, the full construction schedule is:
- 1.Woodland Elementary — Construction began in 2025. Expected to open fall 2027.
- 2.Amberly Elementary — Ground broken June 3, 2026. Expected to open fall 2028.
- 3.Angling Road Elementary — Construction begins 2027. Expected to open fall 2029.
The current Amberly building will remain open and in operation during construction. Students and staff will not be displaced while the new facility is built.
For the Angling Road project, students and staff will use the former Haverhill Elementary School building during construction, according to district officials.
More Work Ahead
District officials also announced that initial planning is underway for two additional projects:
- A remodel of Moorsbridge Elementary
- Replacement of the district's oldest building, which is over 70 years old and currently houses early childhood education programs and Community High School
Portage Public Schools serves approximately 8,591 students across 14 schools, including eight elementary schools, three middle schools, two traditional high schools, one alternative high school, and a preschool program.
The Amberly groundbreaking marks the first visible progress on the November 2025 bond. For families in the Amberly neighborhood, the wait for updated facilities is now measured in years rather than promises.