Rowan County Middle School students can now look forward to a “new beginning” before the year 2010 when a 100,000 square-foot building will be finished and ready to house 850 students.
Dignitaries, school officials, teachers and community leaders gathered Tuesday for a groundbreaking ceremony that took place at the site of the new school next to the Rowan County Senior High School and the technical college.
Superintendent Marvin Moore said the vision had come true and he is pleased the community stood behind the idea by supporting the recallable nickel tax.
“This is an exciting time for us, the students and staff and the community,” he commented during the ceremony. “This is the largest single project that the school board has ever done. The present middle school has been sufficient for many years, but it’s time to move on. This would not be possible without everyone working together. When we suggested the recallable nickel tax, only one person showed up to protest it. That goes to show without a doubt the support the community has for education.”
Moore said the RCMS gymnasium was built in 1958 and served the Morehead High School. The rest of the building was built in 1962 and was the Rowan County High School until 1983 when the $12 million new high school was built in its present location.
At that time, the old high school was then made into the middle school where it had 80 staff members and 650 students. The library was added in 1990.
School board Chairman Larry Coldiron stood Tuesday during the ceremony to make comments about the project. “This all is happening because of you,” he said. “This will not be a bookshelf building, but instead a unique school that all of us can be proud of.”
Majority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins (D) said Rowan County held a special place in his heart. “This is a great day for this community,” Adkins said. “I have spent a lot of evenings in the gymnasium at the middle school while playing basketball for Elliott County, and I feel a great attachment to his county.” This project resembles what this county is all about ¬– moving forward. I just want to compliment this community and our most precious resource – our children.”
Representative John Will Stacy (D) said he is pleased to be a part of the project and happy to have taken part in making it happen. “At the state level the recallable nickel has to be equalized and that has been taken care of,” he said. “This is a tremendous day for everyone involved in this. I want to congratulate each and every one of you for your vision. When people work together, great things happen. We are your public servants and we are proud to work for you. This school will be an icon for this community and it says - education matters.”
State Senator Walter Blevins (D) spoke about his connection to Morehead and his feelings about the new middle school.
“This is a special place to me and a special place in eastern Kentucky,” he said. “This school is the last piece to the puzzle. This middle school is the key to the community. You have the airport, the industrial park, the technical college, all the businesses and Morehead State University and it’s all right here on the interstate. It’s just a great day for every one and I’m so glad to be a part of it.”
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