Ready for class: Board visits new schools
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on May 21, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Chris West, left, chairman of the Wayne County Board of Education, and Arnold Flowers, vice chairman, sign the final solar panel at a ceremony on Wednesday at the new Spring Creek Middle School.
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Spring Creek Middle Principal Kevin Smith beams with excitement during the ceremony marking the near-completion of the school.
Wayne County Public Schools held two celebration ceremonies Wednesday at the district's newest middle schools, currently under construction in Grantham and Spring Creek and slated to open in the fall.
"Top off celebrations" were held at the district's "energy-positive schools," as dignitaries toured the facilities and commemorated the final solar panel installation.
The milestone also reflected the rich histories of the two communities, said Dr. Sandra McCullen, interim superintendent.
She had grown up in Seven Springs -- one of the oldest communities in Wayne County, she said. It was formerly called Whitehall and had been named for one of her ancestors.
She also had ties in Grantham, having worked there as a teacher when now-principal Lisa Tart was a student. Mrs. Tart became principal there in 2006 and effective July 1, will become principal at the middle school.
Former and current school board members, administrators and representatives from the county commission attended the two ceremonies. It was fitting, Mrs. McCullen said, since the projects were the result of a joint collaboration between the two boards.
"The Board of Education and the Board of Commissioners entered into an agreement in June of 2014 to have these schools constructed and ready for occupancy to open in the fall of 2015," she said.
But the actual $35 million projects were part of the 2007 school board facilities plan.
"Persistence and patience paid off," she told the gathering.
It was appropriate that they all sign the final solar panel on the building, symbolic of the district's efforts toward STEM, or science, technology, engineering and math, as well as keeping pace with 21st century technology.
Architects had told school officials at the outset the project would include "on-site renewable energy" with the capability of producing 40 percent more energy than the annual operation of each school requires.
"We embarked on this some time ago and we have had several meetings -- good meetings, contentious meetings -- but we were all able to come together and make this happen," Board Chairman Chris West said, thanking Architect Robbie Ferris for bringing the ideas to the board. "I think this is something that the community can be very proud of."
Wayne Aycock, chairman of the commission, agreed that it had been a "long road" but the boards had worked together to make this a reality.
Mrs. Tart expressed her appreciation to both boards for their "progressive vision" that will impact the community for years to come.
During a walk-through of the empty building that will soon become a cafeteria, academic wing, computer lab, auditorium and gymnasium, the principal reflected on her eight years at the school.
"The group (of students now) in eighth grade is the first group that I had, I have had them since kindergarten, so it will be the first and last group I have had that experience with," she said.
Dr. Steven Taylor, who retired as schools superintendent in December, said he appreciated all the hard work that had been done and the county commissioners' support to bring it to fruition.
"I'm just excited to be here and be part of this," he said, adding, "We're so pleased that we were able to get the auditoriums at both schools. Not only for the schools but at this end of the county. We only have a few auditoriums in the district, so that was very important."
Both schools are located less than a mile from what will become their feeder schools.
Their role will be much larger, though, as potential "focal points" in their respective communities, Mrs. McCullen said.
The Spring Creek property on U.S. 111just one year ago was producing watermelons, she said. But in years to come, her grandchildren and many others will be attending school there, she said.
Kevin Smith, principal at Rosewood Elementary School until July 1, when he takes over the reins as administrator at Spring Creek Middle, could hardly contain his excitement.
But the lifelong resident of Wayne County, who began his career in education in 1994, said his joy went beyond his own role.
"When you walk through these two buildings, you saw a beautiful building but that's just aesthetics," he said. "But there's another beauty to this building and the inner beauty to this building is what it represents to our children -- it represents the leadership that these two boards have made to putting our children in first class facilities and to me, that's the greatest beauty in this school."