The following is an article from the Hendersonville Times News on August 30th, 2018 – By Andrew Mundhenk Times-News Staff Writer.
It was a day for unity and celebration for a project long awaited by the Edneyville community.
County and school leaders celebrated the construction of the new Edneyville Elementary Thursday morning with a groundbreaking ceremony. The $24.9 million, 87,000-square-foot facility is being constructed directly behind the current building on Pace Road.
As an excavator cleared land in the background, officials dug into a plot of dirt with ceremonial shovels to mark the occasion. They were joined by the entire Yellow Jacket student body, which will call the new building home next year.
While the future of Hendersonville High remains unknown, county and school leaders took the time to highlight the successful collaboration between the two boards that resulted in a new school for Edneyville.
“It’s a recognition of the work that the Board of Commissioners, board of education and the community as a whole have done together,” said Michael Edney, chair of the Board of Commissioners. “This is a project that we can all be proud of because we’re all in it together for the kids and for the community.”
“The Edneyville community has always taken pride in its schools and this one will take its place in that tradition,” said School Board Vice Chair Rick Wood. “This beautiful new school that we’re breaking ground for today is a result of two elected boards working together to meet an identified need for a new school.”
The two-story facility will feature an abundance of natural lighting with a core capacity for 600 students. K-5 classrooms are being placed on the back side of the facility overlooking a pond and rural landscape while the media center, cafeteria and administrative offices will be at the front of the building.
A full-sized gymnasium is also included in the plans, which will serve as a multi-use space open for the community to use.
In closing the ceremony, Principal Marsha Justice said Edneyville is a family, a strong community with traditions that run deep.
“The Edneyville staff is dedicated to providing a positive and nurturing environment where students can lead and learn,” she said. “The new facility will allow us to not only maintain the important traditions that make us who we are, but also to contribute to the academic growth and safety of our Yellow Jackets.”Fourth-grade student Nyles Clark spoke, telling his peers to look forward to making new traditions next year.
“While we have made great memories in our current building, I’m looking forward to the new school where we can make even more memories,” he said. “Thank you to everyone that made this possible.”
The new school is still on schedule to open in time for the 2019-20 school year. The old buildings will be torn down for a parking lot once students move into the new facility.
