By MARY BAILEY The Reporter
Marshall County Schools has added two new much-needed buildings to their school district.
A 5,500 square foot “Central Pre-K” which will accommodate almost 50 children with special needs started classes on March 3.
The building, which had been under construction for over a year, has a covered driveway, tornado shelter, and various learning opportunities tailored for the students.
In total, the new Central Pre-K costs around $5 million dollars.
“We are incredibly excited about our newly constructed Central Pre-K facility, designed to meet the needs of our youngest learners. This state-of-the-art space includes two classrooms, a sensory room, a cafeteria, a playground, and a storm shelter, ensuring both typical children and children with disabilities have access to the support and resources they need to thrive in the safest environment possible. With comprehensive related services, including speech, occupational, and physical therapy, we are committed to providing an inclusive, nurturing, and engaging learning environment. This new facility represents our dedication to early intervention, growth, and success for every child we serve,” said Marshall County Schools Superintendent, Dr. Cindy Wigley.
“This program has been a part of our district for many years, and due to limited space, has moved seven times. We are excited that both staff and students now have a dedicated facility. One that has been carefully designed with input from the staff to address the unique needs of their classrooms. We finally have a facility reflective of the educational excellence the staff provides to our children in this program. Our continued goal is to ensure that every child has the best opportunity for a smooth and successful transition to kindergarten.”
Dr. Wigley said once the playground equipment is in place, they will host an open house to share their beautiful new facility with the community.
“We are incredibly grateful to Superintendent Dr. Cindy Wigley for her vision and dedication in making the new Central Pre-K a reality. This wonderful space will provide our youngest learners with the support and resources they need to explore, develop, and succeed,” said Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Annie Spike.
Speech Language Pathologist, Lori Skidmore and CPK Teacher, Jennie Baker expressed how excited they were on opening day of the new facility.
“Today we get to move into our brand new and final home where we will continue to do the work we love.”
The second building is a new transportation facility for the school system's buses.
They will be replacing the current building that has been used since the 1970s.
“When our current facility was built, buses were much smaller, transporting 45 to 60 students. Today, our fleet consists of 72-and-78-passenger buses, which are a tight fit in our outdated shop, making it difficult for mechanics to work safely and efficiently. This new facility will provide the space, tools, and resources needed to maintain our fleet at the highest safety standards,” Dr. Wigley said of the new facility.
“As superintendent, student safety is our top priority, and our transportation services are committed to providing safe, reliable, and efficient travel for every student we serve.”
The MCBOE Transportation Department serves four districts within Marshall County Schools, running 87 bus routes daily and transporting students with a fleet of 110 buses, which includes a state required percentage of spare buses to ensure uninterrupted service.
Collectively, their buses travel over 5,000 miles each day and over 100,000 miles annually for field trips and school extracurricular activities. To ensure safety and reliability, every bus undergoes a full bumper-to-bumper inspection and service each month.
“We take pride in our commitment to safety, consistently passing annual state inspections with 100% proficiency. With over 140 dedicated employees, including drivers, aides, mechanics, and support staff, this new facility will help us continue delivering safe, secure, and dependable transportation for all students—every mile, every ride, every day,” Dr. Wigley added.
Mr. David Jones, Bus Shop Foreman, spoke on the impact of the new facility.
“For 35 years, I’ve been dedicated to keeping our buses safe for the students at Marshall County Schools. Our old facility was built when buses were much smaller, and today’s larger 72- and 78-passenger buses barely fit, making it harder for us to work safely. This new facility gives us the room, tools, and technology we need to keep every bus in top condition. When kids step on our buses, parents trust us with their safety, this facility helps us keep that promise.”
Additionally, the growing Marshall Technical School Army JROTC program will be moving into the vacated bus shop, providing them with a dedicated space to support their expansion.
“Our JROTC program has grown from one to two instructors, creating a greater need for dedicated space. Sharing a campus with the transportation department has been extremely crowded, and this move will provide cadets with the room needed for hands-on training, leadership development, physical training, simulated practice, and competition practice,” said Patrick Smith, Director of Career & Technical Education and Principal of Marshall Technical School.
Dr. Wigley concluded by saying that the new transportation facility provides their staff with the space and resources needed to maintain their fleet safely and efficiently. It’s a big step forward for them in improving operations. She’s excited for both their transportation staff and JROTC cadets, and this upgrade will benefit their entire school community.
The state final inspection and relocation is expected to be completed in June.
