Perhaps the only thing stronger than the wind on this brisk February day was the sense of pride and resilience of Crittenden County school district leaders as they symbolically sunk shovels into the ground that will soon be home to a new middle school addition. Joining Superintendent Tonya Driver and Board of Education Chair Chris Cook, middle school student council officers Aliza Maraman and Jayden Jones stood alongside their principal, Kara Turley, at a groundbreaking ceremony years in the making. 

The new addition is replacing the original wing of the middle school, which was built in 1949. At its completion, the new addition will feature a two-story addition with a canopy connecting the new building to the front of the middle school gym. In addition to new classrooms, the construction will feature new science and computer labs. “As you can imagine, a science classroom and laboratory built in 2024 will be much different from one built in 1949,” Cook shared with the crowd.

Superintendent Tonya Driver echoed Cook’s sentiments, sharing her excitement for the state-of-the-art technology and modern learning environment the new building will afford students for generations. Together with middle school staff and students, school and district leaders, state and local legislators, Chamber of Commerce officers and members, and construction project partners, Superintendent Tonya Driver thanked the board of education, along with the partner firms who have collaborated to make the project possible. She also expressed great appreciation for her predecessor, Superintendent Vince Clark. “His work, drive, and determination to get a new school has led to this reality for us,” she said. 

Middle school principal Kara Turley added that while the current building has served Crittenden County well for more than half a century, students and staff are deserving of a building equipped to challenge them and grow them as future leaders. “It’s an exciting day,” said Turley, “and one that I am honored to be a part of as we stand here today in the midst of history being made. This building will serve as a place of great learning for generations of students to come.”

The groundbreaking ceremony coincided with “Wear Red For Ed Day,” a region-wide campaign among school districts to promote public education in western Kentucky. “What a perfect time to do this,” said Cook, “as we join other public schools across western Kentucky celebrating “West Kentucky Public Schools Strong:  Connected to our Communities. Committed to our kids.”

Completion of the middle school addition is expected to take 18 months, with the goal of students entering the building for the 2025-2026 school year.