Ground was officially broken shortly after 11 a.m. today. Gathering for the occasion were representatives of the Harrison County Board of Education, West Virginia School Building Authority, City Construction Company, McKinley and Associates, the City of Bridgeport, Bridgeport City Council, Johnson Elementary administration, faculty and students and Superintendent of Harrison County Schools Dr. Mark Manchin, who served as master of ceremonies.

 

After Manchin recognized the above-mentioned stakeholders and provided enthusiastic words of welcome, a group of fifth grade students provided special music and then shovels were distributed and ground officially broken.

 

Looking out into the proposed construction site, Manchin said he was thrilled and the reason for his excitement was for the children.

 

“This new school is going to be state-of-the-art – absolutely technologically, structurally one of the nicest schools in the entire state of West Virginia,” he said. “It is a unique school and when you first get a glimpse – coming around Johnson Avenue, you’re going to see this unique design. (People) are just going to love this building. It’s more than brick and mortar; it is the hopes and dreams of all of our children and the future of those children.”

 

Sophia Devono is a Johnson Elementary first grader. She will be in third grade when the new school is projected to open, in August of 2018. She said she is excited about the bigger school and particularly about the large gymnasium.

 

Ava Turpin, Dena Friend, Jordan Groves and Taylor Bowen are JES fifth graders who provided today’s special music. They sang “Best Day of My Life.” They won’t be attending the new school, but they are excited nonetheless. They said that maybe someday their children will go there.

 

Johnson Elementary Principal Vicki Huffman said she is excited too. It’s a project which has encountered some obstacles, but that the architects, board of education and city of Bridgeport continue to work well together for the good of the students and community. It’s important, Huffman said, that the new school be equipped with components needed for learning in today’s world – and in the years to come.

 

Participation in today’s groundbreaking festivities are indicative of the forthcoming project.

 

“We’re just very fortunate that we have such great support here in our community,” Huffman said.

 

Individuals participating in the groundbreaking included Dr. Mark Manchin, Gary Hamrick, Kristin Messenger, Frank Devono, Jr., Mike Daugherty, Doug Hogue, Vicki Huffman, Heather Holbert, Diana Marra, Dustin Vincent, Thom Worlledge, James Arnone, Beau Henderson and student representatives Brayden Northey, Jack Holbert, Natalie Ward, Haydn Henderson, Sylvia Devono, Anthony Ward, Sophia Devono, Sean Huffman and Broc Henderson.

Manchin pointed out that students of this year’s Johnson Elementary third grade class provided input regarding the school design and that those suggestions were taken into account by Worlledge, head architect for the project. 

 

Read the latest about the JES construction project in a story by Jeff Toquinto HERE.

 

See more photos from today's groundbreaking at the gallery link below. Additional photos and coverage of today's event is forthcoming on Connect-Bridgeport.