Published: August 25, 2009 08:33 pm      

Students return to new school

WELCH — School is back in session today in McDowell County for all but 233 youngsters in the Bradshaw community.

Those students instead will have to report on Monday, Aug. 31, to the brand-new Bradshaw Elementary School. Construction on the multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art facility, has concluded, School Superintendent Suzette Cook said.

The new elementary school is located along a 17-acre educational campus in Bradshaw that will also house the new Riverview High School. Because supplies are still being delivered to the new school, it won’t be ready for students until next Monday. However, parents and students will still get a sneak peak at the facility Friday at 2 p.m.

“It’s not a formal tour, open house or dedication,” Cook said. “We just wanted to give parents a chance to come in and look around before day one.”

The old Bradshaw Elementary was demolished about four years ago, along with the old Bartley Elementary. Both were located along the flood zone. Cook said elementary school students in the Bradshaw area attended classes in modular units while their new school was under construction. The new Bradshaw Elementary is part of an ongoing flood-proofing project between the McDowell County Board of Education, the West Virginia Board of Education, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

While most students will report to the new school on Aug. 31, Cook said the first day of Kindergarten for Bradshaw Elementary is Sept. 1. She said Pre-K orientation will be on Sept. 8 and the first full day of Pre-K will be Sept. 9.

“Debra Maxwell will be the principal of Bradshaw Elementary,” Cook said. “She’s been a guidance counselor at the (old Bradshaw Elementary) for a number of years. So we have a new principal.”

While a new school is set to open in Bradshaw, the end is finally near for Big Creek High School and Iaeger High School. Both of the historic schools will close following the conclusion of the 2009-2010 school year, Cook said. The new Riverview High School will open in Bradshaw next fall consolidating and closing the existing Big Creek and Iaeger high schools.

Cook said both communities are planning big send-offs for their schools.

“I think there are huge plans in the Iaeger area concerning their football homecoming game, and the parade and those kind of things,” Cook said. “The event is usually huge anyway. But they are going to make the last homecoming a huge event.”

Big Creek High School gained national attention back in 1999 with the release of the motion picture “October Sky.”