HICO, WV (WOAY)—Ansted and Divide elementary schools have served the Fayette County community and its students for many years. Now, Fayette County Schools is so excited to have officially broken ground for the new Midland Trail Elementary School, which will serve its kindergarten through fifth grade students for many years to come.
The 21 million dollar project will be the new home for kindergarten through 5th grade students in the area. It’s the solution for upgrading their elementary schools for a better learning environment.
“Well, it’s going to be a complete school with all the modern amenities that we have in all of our schools where the students have more learning opportunities,” said Gary Hough, Fayette County Schools superintendent. “Of course, it’s going to be located here on the campus so we can do some cross-teaching between our middle school and elementary students. By having that experience, it’s going to be up based on the culture of this area where it’s agriculturally based. We’re going to do some different work out here on this campus.”
The local community and the staff at the schools have worked together to make this a reality.
“You know, we’ve been fighting for this school for a while and we’re making it happen. We didn’t give up,” said Shannan Hedgecock, Principal at Divide Elementary School. “So that shows the dedication that we have to this community on growing this community. We feel that we can do that by having a new school and just the opportunities that it grants us.”
“Our community’s most important part of our school. Our community has invested in our schools and we are excited for them to continue the partnership of bringing their gifts and talents into our schools,” said Marchelle Bowling, Principal at Ansted Elementary School.
Staff are already planning for when students are together in the new building.
“We’re looking to put greenhouses in and doing some environmental work here on campus,” explain Hough. “With our environmental teaching, we have the opportunity to work with our high school students on those projects right here at our elementary school.”
They say they are excited about this school’s future and what it will bring to the students of Fayette County. However, this elementary school is not the only thing coming to the school system.
“We’re building a brand new softball field down below here, there’s a new baseball field. The whole campus is going to have a different look,” said Hough.
The school is set to be finished and ready for the 2026-2027 school year.
Check out Newswatch anchor Serena Davanzo live on the scene:
