By Cinnamon Dowd

A large crowd gathered at the construction site on Monday to participate in the historical ground breaking ceremony of the future PreK-8 facility to be located off of Hwy 129 South.

Superintendent Dr. Tom Bigwood welcomed the spectators and began the program with recognitions of attending guests.

Metter High School’s JROTC students provided the Presentation of Colors and led the pledge followed by an invocation led by William George.

Brief remarks were made by key members of each aspect of the construction of the school. Board Chairman Craig Lanier opened remarks by thanking the citizens of Candler County for being willing to take on the challenge of building a new school.

“What we are undertaking here will be the largest prject that takes place in Candler County for quite some time,” said Lanier.

“It was brought about by the embracing of the citizens of this county of the growth and the need for a home that will facilitate and embrace that growth,” Lanier added.

“And it is our vision that this facility will be the place that our students and our young people will be able to grow, not only in number, but into productive adults and successful adults.”

Both Senator Jack Hill and Representative Butch Parrish offered their congratulations on the future success of the school and recognized the efforts that have made thus far towards the school.

“If you see a new school built, you know it didn’t get there by itself,” said Senator Hill. “It takes a whole community and a partnership between the state and local leadership to make a project like this happen.”

Dr. H.M. Schuber, Jr., of the State Facilities Department, also congratulated the community and board on the progress of the school and expressed his excitement on seeing the facility completed.

Craig Buckley of Craig Buckley and Associates spoke on the involvement of the school district and the board in the entire planning process for the school.

Ronald Sikes, retired Metter principal and now board member, made the closing remarks.

Sikes explained that all superintendents, administration and teachers have a “sacred trust” to the children of Candler County.

“Candler County, you deserve this complex,” he said. “This complex honors all those that have gone before us, all the hard work by boards, superintendents, teachers, community leaders and students over the years.

“But most of all, our youg people, our children of Candler County, deserve this complex,” Sikes concluded.

Courtesy of Metter Advertiser