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JACKSON – Northampton County Schools put shovels in the ground on Friday, March 28 to celebrate the culmination of a project which has been in the works for 15 years.

“We’re not just breaking ground on a new school,” said Superintendent Dr. Rosa Atkins. “We’re breaking ground on a vision that has been years in the making. A vision of excellence, opportunity, and togetherness.”

The groundbreaking event was held to mark the beginning of construction on a new centrally-located high school. The site is on Highway 305 just outside of the Jackson town limits, not far from the Cultural and Wellness Center. A large crowd attended the event to show their support.

Northampton County Schools representative Phil Matthews gave an overview of the history of the high school project.

“For many years, Northampton County operated two thriving high schools. One on each side of the county,” he said. “We had a good thing going. But when you have a good thing going, a problem always arises.”

Matthews explained that, in 2010, a declining student population meant that it had become too costly to operate two high schools. Eventually, all of the high school students began attending the former NCHS-West in Gaston. But because of Northampton’s wide geographical area, leaders wanted to build a school closer to the middle of the county.

Matthews recounted that, over the years, the district worked to secure money from the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund and also to find a suitable piece of land for the new school. He noted that the $62 million total that Northampton received came from state lottery funds, not tax money. And the county commissioners provided funds for purchasing the site from the Vaughan family, who agreed to sell the land in support of local education.

After they secured the funds and the land, the district worked with Ratio Architects to design the building and Bordeaux Construction to manage the project. When the bids came back a couple million over budget, the county commissioners agreed to cover that deficit.

“We’re very thankful that the county commissioners stepped up to the plate and said we’ve got your back,” Matthews said, noting that they finally have a way forward after 15 years.

Several people involved in the project also spoke during the groundbreaking event.

“It’s the beginning of a new chapter for Northampton County Schools and our entire community,” said Northampton Board of Education Chair Barbara Stephenson. “As we turn the first shovels of dirt today, we are planting the seeds of knowledge, opportunity, and growth. We can take pride in knowing that we helped build something truly special, not just for today’s students, but for generations to come.”

Northampton Board of Commissioners Chair Ed Martin said he was proud to play a small part in helping the project come to fruition, noting that it had been in the works long before he had a seat on the board.

“Education is the key to our future, and the prosperity of our county depends on it,” he emphasized.

J. Wendell Hall shared remarks on behalf of the state Board of Education, and called the new school a “launchpad for dreams” of future students.

“This groundbreaking ceremony is not just laying a foundation for a building,” he said. “You are laying a foundation for a brighter future for the children of Northampton County.

“What we see today is not just a beginning for a building, but a place where every child is celebrated, where curiosity is encouraged, creativity flourishes, and where every child is empowered to reach his or her full potential,” Hall continued.

Former Northampton Superintendent Dr. Monica Smith-Woofter acknowledged the hard work that went into the project for years, saying “we persevered. We never gave up hope. We recognized the importance of investing in our students.”

She also said she believed her aunt, former board of education member Lucy Edwards, was smiling down on them that day.

A shovel with a yellow bow was included in the groundbreaking event to honor the memories of Edwards and Josephine Dunn, who both passed away in recent years while serving on the school board.

A few students also took part in the event, representing those who will be in the first freshman class and the first graduating class of the new high school.

Ridan Kaiwan and De’vonna Whitehead from Conway Middle School said the new school will help their dreams take shape and provide more opportunities to reach their full potential. They thanked everyone involved for making the new school a reality.

Gaston Stem Leadership Academy students Damoni Hicks and X’Zaviion Manley said they were excited about the future. With a new facility, they will be better prepared and better equipped to learn and grow.

NCHS student T’jiyah Bush said a new school with better resources and more modern technology will help not only herself and her classmates but also the generations that will follow. She also thanked everyone for not giving up.

“Your hard work and dedication show you care about us,” Bush said. “What starts here today will shape our tomorrow.”

In her comments, Dr. Atkins noted that the new school will bring students together under one roof in the center of the county.

“Today, we take a bold step forward,” she said. “The new school will neither be East nor West.”

“This school is not just a building. It is a statement,” she continued. “A statement that we are stronger together. A statement that our students deserve a place that reflects their limitless potential. The school will not be defined by the past. It will create its own legacy.”

A large group of current and former leaders as well as students and staff then grabbed a shovel for the official groundbreaking moment.

Others who took part in Friday’s ceremony included County Manager Julian Phillips, Col. William Ledbetter, Rev. Tony Flood, Dr. Mark Long, Shonta Peterson, former assistant superintendent Dr. Kelvin Edwards, NCHS Principal John Williams, Hal Bowen (Ratio Architects), and Blair Bordeaux (Bordeaux Construction). Students from the Conway Middle School band provided music.

Former superintendent Dr. Eric Bracy was also scheduled to speak, but was not able to attend.