School Board members (L-R) are Morris Hardy, Lester Brown, Bobbie Morgan, Leo Branch, Atty. Hank Sanders, Superintendent Dr. Emma Louie, Frances Presswood, Rev. Randy Miller and Rev. Kevin Cockrell were among participants in ground breaking.

Dr. Louie makes presentation at School Board office after groundbreaking ceremony with rendering of new complete high school in front of her

As earthmovers prepared the site in the background, more than a dozen board members, officials, friends and a few students turned over shovels of dirt to mark the groundbreaking for the new Greene County High School.

The formal groundbreaking was held at the site on U. S. Highway 11 on the outskirts of the City of Eutaw. This was the former location of the Greene County Stockyards, which has been closed for several years and was torn down over the past few weeks.

A program to celebrate the groundbreaking and challenges ahead was held at the Greene County Board of Education offices on Main Street immediately following the groundbreaking.

Superintendent Emma Louie began the program by sharing her slogan of “One Vision, One Voice and One Victory” for the effort to secure sufficient funds to build a complete high school facility for the young people of Greene County. She reminded the audience, “We still have a few hurdles to overcome before we build the new high school including the vote on November 6th to approve a 3 mill ad valorem tax increase to fund the total project.”  Louie said she hoped all the people of Greene County share the vision of a new high school and that education for all of the children drives that vision.

Board Chair Leo Branch said “This groundbreaking is a historical event. Our children deserve the best. Let’s not play politics with our children. Involve your family, neighbors and friends in supporting the referendum in November. We must take care of our future doctors, lawyers, teachers and other professionals by building a complete high school.”

State Senator Hank Sanders, who is also the attorney for the Greene County Board of Education, spoke about the efforts toward a new school. He said,  “First, it has taken a lot of work to get to this point but everyone can help to build on this start. Second, having a new school will lift the spirits of our children and help them to learn more. Third, we just had a groundbreaking which is what you do before you plant; we are planting a better education for our children. Last, it is important that we build a whole school not part, or half, or three quarters of a school; so we will need to pass the pass the tax referendum in November.” 

Mayor Steele of Eutaw said, “We thank all who were involved in making this day possible. I support the referendum and I own property in Greene County.” Francis Presswood, Legislative Assistant to Senator Bobby Singleton and Representative A. J. McCampbell, spoke on their behalf and congratulated the Board and superintendent for their efforts to build a new school in this difficult economic environment.

Board member Bobbie Morgan said she supported the best for the boys and girls of Greene County. Board member Morris Hardy said, “We need unity in Greene County to go forward. We took a big step today with the groundbreaking and we need to take another big step in November.” Board member Lester Brown said “It has been fifty years since we built a school in Greene County and it is now time to build this school.”

Joe Morrow, a Boligee City Council member and former high school principal said, “We must support this referendum in November to build a new school. We do not need to build half a school like other halfway schools in the Black Belt. We need a complete school to stop people from taking their children to Demopolis and Tuscaloosa for schooling. The 3 mills tax is insignificant in cost in comparison to the benefits.” Dr. Louie commented that the cost of the tax for most Greene Countians would be like “a chesseburger a month.”

Many other citizens spoke on the importance of the day and the need to support the referendum. The most inspiring testimony came from Sammie Bailey a 1999 graduate of Greene County public schools and a native of the Mantua area, who said that he was proud to serve as electrical engineer for the design of the new high school and hoped to see it built. “I am a product of Greene County schools and now I have a role in building a new high school for my home county.