BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Martin County’s long climb toward modern school facilities reached another milestone Monday as local and state officials gathered in Inez to break ground for the new Martin County Elementary School.

Contractors have completed site preparation and are ready to begin the construction phase of the project, which will place a new elementary school on the same hilltop campus built to serve generations of Martin County students.

Advisor to the Governor Rocky Adkins, Sen. Phillip Wheeler and Rep. Bobby McCool joined Superintendent Larry James and Martin County Board of Education members Mickey McCoy, Kathleen Price, James Bowie Clark, Steven Gauze and Lorna Cassady for the ceremonial turning of dirt.

For Price, the moment reflected the scale of what Martin County has undertaken. The new elementary school will sit next to the seven-year-old Martin County High School on Hollybush Road.

“We didn’t just move one mountain to build a school,” Price said. “We moved two mountains to build two schools.”

Wheeler praised Martin County residents for continuing to invest in public education, even in a county where money does not come easily.

“I would like to thank the people of Martin County for their dedication to public education,” Wheeler said. “This is not the wealthiest county in the world, but they’ve always stepped up when they’ve had to. They voted their own nickel to make sure that children have good facilities to learn in. They know education is what’s important, teaching and training the next generation to make this place prosperous once again.”

Wheeler said he and McCool have worked to ensure the district received state support for the building projects.

“You all started the revolution, and we’re proud to continue it,” Wheeler said. “We will show our dedication, just like we did when we got that money for the Martin County water system. We’re going to continue to show our dedication to the people of Martin County to ensure that Martin County is the best county it can be.”

Board chairman Mickey McCoy of District 1 thanked Adkins for his support, saying Adkins has stood for all facets of education.

“And let it be known that this is not a charter school,” McCoy said. “Public schools all the way.”

James said the project, which consolidates Inez and Warfield elementary schools, began with a smaller budget. Construction costs increased as prices rose and, ultimately, the state provided the district with around $33 million for the new school.

“We got $10 million,” James said. “At the time, you could just about build an elementary school. Then we got a little more, and then it ended up being a lot more because prices skyrocketed.”

James thanked Jim Codell of Codell Construction, McCool, Wheeler and Adkins.

“We appreciate their support,” he said. “This school is going to be great. We’re going to have about a third of our county students here when they start in two years. We’re very excited.”

James also pointed to the area where athletic fields are planned.

“When we get those up here,” he said, “our kids are set up for the next 50 years.”

Adkins called the Hollybush Drive site one of the most beautiful school settings in Kentucky, “maybe throughout America.”

“This is an unbelievable site to build a high school, to build an elementary school, to build athletic fields — to have it on a site that keeps alive who we are in Eastern Kentucky, the heritage of the mining industry,” he said. “To be able to see these properties be used to educate the future of this community is something I know you all are proud of, and everyone should be.”

Adkins said projects of this size happen only when local and state leaders work together.

“These projects don’t just fall out of the sky,” he said. “When people work together, great things happen … This is teamwork. This is not a Democrat or Republican project; this is just a project that is good for the children of Martin County.”

Adkins said the school will benefit students, teachers, administrators and the broader community as Martin County works to prepare its future workforce and rebuild opportunity in a region affected by the downturn of coal.

“When businesses and industries come and see what you’ve done here and what you’re building here, they’re going to be impressed,” Adkins said. “And to have the opportunity for them to locate here to employ our people, to bring hope and opportunity once again, I think that’s what we’re all trying to do — to make that happen.”