LEWES — A tour of the new Frederick D. Thomas Middle School on Tuesday wasn’t exactly quiet.
At Cape Henlopen School District’s third middle school, principal David Frederick said there were teachers and administrators in the building, as well as meetings of all kinds. But there were also cranes, workers and a sense of motion, as several hundred people worked to prepare the school for its grand opening.
Of course, more noise was expected Wednesday, when classes began for the 2024-25 year.
Mr. Frederick, formerly of Beacon Middle School and the Delaware Association of School Administrators’ 2023 Principal of the Year, outlined the facility’s progress.
“I mean, we have some places that, obviously, aren’t finished yet; we’re tightening some stuff up,” he explained.
For example, the gymnasium was still having its floor installed. The auditorium, a massive three-level mixed-use space, was roughed out, but seating needed to be put in. Plus, the area is perfect for staging other materials, so it was doubling as a storage spot, too.
The 600-student middle school was built on the site of the former Richard Shields Elementary, where Mr. Thomas was himself a principal. The design needed to go up, not out, resulting in a three-story structure.
The classrooms and cafeteria were complete and ready to serve Tuesday, but Mr. Frederick said staff may have to wait on some small amenities.
The administrative and common areas are on the first floor, along with the sixth-grade classrooms, he explained. Seventh grade is largely contained to the second floor, while the eighth graders enjoy the school’s version of a penthouse suite.
The walls and halls were antiseptic in a way they may never be again, with no posters, placards or name tags. Mr. Frederick was certain that was temporary, though, and noted that staff couldn’t wait to get into their rooms and decorate.
Leading the loop back to the main office — where lights were being installed and glass was being polished furiously — the principal stopped at the “history wall” installation, to talk a little about the school’s namesake.
Acting as both teacher and administrator, Mr. Thomas first ran a segregated schoolhouse, later retiring as the Cape district’s first African American administrator.
He served in the Army during World War II and was honorably discharged after campaigns in central Europe and Normandy, France. Further, Mr. Thomas was awarded citations for service and good conduct during his tenure, according to his discharge papers.
Mr. Frederick was given those papers from the Thomas family, but he also has on hand a citation from President Jimmy Carter, Mr. Thomas’ passport and even his old license plate.
The former educator died in 1978.
Now, he has two namesake buildings in the Cape district; the other is used for administrative and some educational functions. According to Stephanie DeMalto, the school board’s communications director, officials are still considering options with two facilities of the same moniker.
As for Principal Frederick, he said he is used to first days of school but was excited Tuesday about what Thomas Middle can offer students.
“We’re fortunate to be here and be undercapacity,” with about 400 students expected this year, he said. “I’ve got teachers from Beacon that transferred over, I’ve got teachers from Mariner (Middle) that transferred over, and I’ve got brand-new people who have come along, and it’s probably about one-third of each.”
The largest incoming class is the sixth grade, and the smallest is eighth, which Mr. Frederick said is indicative of the growth the beach area has seen over the past several years.
Those sixth graders will have access to the Spanish immersion elective offered at the other Cape middle schools, Mr. Frederick said.
Overall, he called the location “pretty amazing.”
“It’s busy, so it’s hard to appreciate right now, but (it’s great) to be able to open something like this (that) is named after a guy that was really just ahead of his time,” he said.
“For me, I’ve been doing this a while and enjoy it, but (I) wanted to try something different, like opening a building — working from concept to architect to the tradesmen putting the plans in place.”
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