photo by: Shelley Hanson

Sand Hill Elementary School kindergarten teacher Tena Stricklin talks with Marshall County Board of Education President John Miller inside her classroom on Friday. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the new school.

Members of the Marshall County Board of Education, teachers, administrators and local dignitaries took part in a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday at the new Sand Hill Elementary School.

Work to construct the 13,000 square foot building cost $13 million and lasted about 1.5 years. It included the razing of the old school. During that time classes were held in a modular building on site. The general contractor was Waller Corp. of Washington, Pa.

The school’s new principal, Heather Haught, said she was looking forward to seeing the students’ reaction to the new school building.

“We’re excited for them to be here. We can’t wait for these kids to walk through the door and see the building,” she said. “These kids got to watch this building be built from the ground up.”

The school has always been a focus point for the Sand Hill community.

“I want parents to know we’re going to build on that same culture that they had,” Haught added. “It’s going to be a positive environment where learning is a priority, and students are nurtured and cared for. They’re safe here and we will take care of them.”

Haught, who has been an educator for 16 years, graduated from Wheeling Central Catholic High School and West Virginia University. She is a Milken Educator Award winner. She was also Marshall County Teacher of Year and West Virginia Reading Teacher of the Year.

A highlight of the new school is a gymnasium that will also be used as the cafeteria. It also features a small stage. One gym wall features a large cardinal mural painted by Jerusalem, Ohio, resident Scott Hagan, aka the Barn Artist.

John Miller, president of the Marshall County Board of Education, described the new school as “fantastic.” He said that, back in 1954, the late Fred Hazlett and his family donated the land on which the original school was built and now the new school as well. He noted two of Hazlett’s sisters, Sue Langmyer and Lou Hanlin, were in attendance for the event.

“We have this brand new school that will become the community center that can be used for all kinds of purposes, but mainly for educating our kids,” Miller said. “Good things are happening in Marshall County.”

Kindergarten teacher Tena Stricklin said she was looking forward to teaching in her new classroom.

“We have our own classroom with windows and doors and a beautiful view,” Stricklin said, noting last school year, she used a shared space for teaching.

During the ceremony, Marshall County Schools Superintendent Shelby Haines said the new school has “the best safety and the best technology” and a new school resource officer, Marshall County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Rich Milbert.

“We have some of the best staff in Marshall County at this school,” Haines said. “We appreciate everything they do and we’re looking forward to a great school year. This is one of the most involved communities I’ve ever been in.”

The ribbon was cut by Haught and board of education members Miller, Vice President Kristi Robison, Lori Kestner, Brenda Coffield and Duane Miller. Also on hand for the event were several dignitaries including Marshall County Sheriff Mike Dougherty, Marshall County EMA Director Tom Hart and Marshall County Commissioner Scott Varner, who served as a substitute principal last year.

Kestner said years ago there were discussions about closing Sand Hill School, but the community protested. There is even a “Save Sand Hill School” T-shirt inside a glass case inside of the new school, she noted.

“I think the numbers are going up and are probably going to go up even further,” she said of the student population.

Students, parents, alumni and community members will get a preview of the new building from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Monday. The first day of school in Marshall County is Tuesday.