Gadsden County Public Schools and other stakeholders gathered on the campus of James A. Shanks Middle School last Wednesday for a groundbreaking ceremony.
The purpose was to celebrate all the hard work of planning and coordinating the construction of a new K-8 school.
The district received a little more than $70 million from the state to build the new school, which will replace old dilapidated schools like Stewart Street and Munroe.
District officials say the state-of-the-art school will soon be home to future generations of students, providing them with a 21st-century, innovative learning environment that fosters creativity, collaboration, and academic excellence.
Quincy Mayor Angela Grant Sapp said the groundbreaking is a reminder of the City of Quincy’s commitment to support the school district.
Local students like Shanks Middle School’s Jaela Perkins and Gadsden Elementary Magnet School’s Angel Lemus-Hernandez also participated in the ceremony. Perkins led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Lemus-Hernandez delivered welcome remarks.
School Board Chairwoman Karema Dudley said the new school will be a sanctuary of learning where students can explore their passions, discover their potential, and cultivate resilience.
“By investing in our youth’s education today, we are laying the groundwork for responsible citizens who will contribute positively to our community tomorrow,” Dudley said.
Dudley said a strong educational foundation strengthens community ties.
Superintendent Elijah Key said the new school shows the commitment from multiple leaders to providing the best educational opportunities to the students.
He said it would not be possible without the school board members who voted back in 2021 to begin the project.
“Gadsden County, we must continue to make growth and progress in order to have the community we desire and deserve, even though growth and progress is difficult sometimes,” Key said.
The superintendent said the project will allow the community to hold on to some history by renovating the gym and building a brand new 2-story building adjacent to it that will serve more than 1,500 students with more than 100 education spaces that include more than 10 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), consumer, and agricultural labs.
Key said the new school will also have two gyms that will help facilitate physical education activities while keeping elementary students separated from middle school students.
Officials say the new school is set to be completed by August 2027.
Erin Hill – Gadsden County News Service
