‘Monumental achievement’: Ground broken for new $28 million TC School

By DEUCE NIVEN

tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com

     Delayed by funding, groundwater, and the often slow moving wheels of government, ground was formally broken for the new Tabor City School on Thursday, the $28 million project on the site of the old Tabor City High, Tabor City Primary High, and Tabor City Elementary school expected to take a year or more to complete.

     “We know that this community takes pride in this school,” Columbus County Schools’ Supt. Dr. Deanne Meadows said as the half-hour program began on what will be the extended front lawn of the new campus. “It’s impressive to me that Columbus County and the community really has a commitment to our children. We’re excited to continue our work with the support of the USDA.”

     Members of the Columbus County Board of Education, Columbus County Commissioners, Tabor City Mayor  Royce Harper, representatives from the area’s congressional delegation, a team from the US Department of Agriculture Rural Development which is largely funding the project, and appointed officials from those agencies joined local school leaders and staff for the celebration.

     So many involved leaders were in attendance that the ceremonial ground breaking involved two separate shovel turnings on fresh dirt placed in front of the actual construction site, still covered with tons of earth that has stabilized the ground to support the massive new structure.

     Meadows said she was hoping to see “smiling faces” in the new school hallways by August 2023.

     Look for much more on this story in the next Tabor-Loris Tribune in print and online.