SPRINGFIELD — The Effingham County Board of Education is close to acquiring to some much-needed room to grow.

During its regularly scheduled meeting Wednesday, the board approved a site application for a new middle school that has been submitted to the Georgia Department of Education. The 84.47-acre property is on Ackerman Spur behind Rincon Elementary School in Rincon (Parcel No. 04630016).

“As soon as we get all the final specs in order, we will be able to close (a deal) on the land for, particularly, a new middle school,” Superintendent Dr. Yancy Ford said Thursday during a Rotary Club of Effingham County meeting at The Herald Center.

The proposed Rincon Middle School includes 103 instructional units and will be designed for expansion. The estimated state for occupancy is July 2024.

The gently sloping property will require minimal grading and has “adequate” space for parking. The area available for athletic/recreation facilities has also been dubbed “adequate.”

The board is still searching for land for a new elementary school in the southern part of the county.

The Effingham County School District started the 2021-22 school year Thursday with more than 13,500 students  Its current 6th, 7th and 8th graders are spread among Ebenezer, Effingham County and South Effingham middle schools.