Putnam County celebrates ribbon cutting for Black Intermediate School; officials credit bond in decade-long revitalization

Putnam County school leaders and students gathered at Black Intermediate School for a ribbon-cutting ceremony where officials credited a long-term facilities plan and a voter-approved bond for making the building possible.

Superintendent Rick Surrency said the school is the culmination of a 10-year revitalization plan the board adopted in January 2021 and thanked voters for approving "our voters of Putnam County approved a $300 bond referendum," calling himself "eternally grateful to the voters of Putnam County for their trusting our district to really provide the best facilities we can for our children." He said he expects students to begin classes at the school in August 2026.

The remarks placed the opening in the context of districtwide facility work. "The nucleus of the board, Mr. Buckles, Ms. Gilyard, and Ms. Pickens, along with the superintendent, had a vision," Board Chair Phil Leary said, adding that the facility will be "one of the finest schools in the state of Florida." Leary also noted a personal connection to the campus and mentioned family members who will attend the school.

Board member Sandy Gilyard gave the invocation and offered a blessing for the safety and success of students, staff and families using the new facility.

Event staff introduced a group of students who will form the school's first class. Young attendees—identified in the program as Jacoby, Carter, Charlie, Adalyn, Jayla and Kayden—told event hosts they were excited about switching classes, a larger gymnasium, a full cafeteria and a new media center. Several students said they currently attend other district schools, including James A. Long and Mosley Elementary.

Officials repeatedly thanked community members and district staff who worked on design and construction. Surrency noted the bond referendum when thanking voters; the ceremony remarks recorded the figure as a "$300 bond referendum," and the transcript does not specify the units (for example, whether that figure represents thousands or millions) or the referendum date.

The ceremony concluded with applause and preparations to cut the ribbon; officials said the district has additional schools planned as part of the revitalization program.