The day got hotter, the recycled speeches got shorter, but the applause
may have been the loudest at the new Cluster Springs Elementary.
ìI call this celebration to order,î intoned Deputy Superintendent Larry
Clark, to hoots and clapping.
As with the service for its twin elementary, South Boston, Cluster
Springsí ceremony had a small-world, folksy feel: Congressman Virgil
Goode brought greetings from his wife, Lucy Dodson Goode, who has
relatives nearby.
Principal Lisa Long was reunited with an old high-school cheerleading
buddy, Dr. Dietra Trent, in town Wednesday on official business as the
stateís Deputy Secretary of Education.
Many speakers simply thanked others ñ teachers and staff, colleagues,
local officials. The School Board heaped praise on the Supervisors; the
Supervisors thanked the School Board. And nearly everyone thanked
Schools Superintendent Paul Stapleton.
Goode, of Rocky Mount, praised the community for pushing ahead with its
education plans.
ìHalifax is a leading school division, not just in the commonwealth but
in the nation,î Goode said. ìHow could a rural school system in
Southern Virginia capture so much technology and be on the cutting
edge?î
State Sen. Frank Ruff said, ìItís very fitting we should be here on
such a shiny, sunny, bright day Ö literally and figuratively.î
Said Trustee Sandra Rister: ìMy wish is that the spark that begins at
this school becomes a lifelong fire for knowledge.î
School Board Chairman D.H. McDowell Jr. said after the festivities that
the schools would be a boon to economic development.
A relocating teacher, he said, had job offers east and west of Halifax
County, but opted for Halifax because of the schools. A realtor was
reporting enthusiasm, he said, and IDA Director Mike Eades was asking
for school photos to put on his economic development website.
When doctors and professionals come to town, schools ìhave been a
negative in some instances,î said McDowell, but perhaps no more.
Also in the ceremony:
ï Board Vice Chairman Steve Anderson said four years ago, before the
hiring of Stapleton, he would not have believed heíd dedicate two new
schools and an overhauled school in a single day: ìI would have told
you the heat had gotten to you,î he quipped as onlookers fanned
themselves and clustered in the shade.
ï Board of Supervisors Chairman William Fitzgerald recalled the
controversy in closing old schools and opening new ones.
ï†Stapleton praised the School Board for ìmaking a lot of tough
decisions.î
He also praised the architect, Alan Burchett of the Danville office of
Dewberry & Davis.
Many architects say of blueprints ìHere they are, you buy ëem and weíll
build ëem,î Stapleton said, but Burchett came up with something
original and tailor-made, he said.
ìAlanís smart; heíll sell this design to lots of other school systems,î
he quipped.
The schools chief also heaped praise on local firm Burton Construction
for their ahead-of-schedule performance and for hiring so many local
sub-contractors.
ï†Supervisor Lottie Nunn of nearby Virgilina, wished the students well:
ìGood luck to you and make straight As.î
ï†Principal Lisa Long noted that it was a rare event for a principal to
open a new school.
ï†Fifth-grader Justin Williams and second-grader Allyson Davis led the
Pledge of Allegiance.
ï†The high schoolís JROTC raised the flag, donated by VFW Post 8243.
ï†The Rev. Don Bryant of Southside Baptist Church gave the invocation.
The 85,500-square-foot school combines South of Dan and the old Cluster
Springs elementaries, and takes in many students from the closed
Turbeville Elementary.