Effingham County High School opens new wing

EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - Effingham County High School celebrated the official opening of its new 150,000-square-foot wing Monday.

The expansion was funded by ESPOST dollars and cost around $30 million to complete, according to Effingham County Schools Superintendent Dr. Yancy Ford.

The new wing, which took around six years to design and construct, includes an auxiliary gym, weight room, science wing, band room and life skills classrooms for special needs students.

“This is going to instill pride in all of our sports teams, our band, you know, all of our students that come to Effingham County High,” said Greg Manior, ECHS Principal.

Some students, like Skylar Vining, are particularly interested in the brand-new band room.

Vining is a senior clarinet player at ECHS. When she got her first glimpse at the larger space, she could barely believe her eyes.

“It was actually unbelievable. I genuinely was so shocked at how large and how nice the whole building is,” said Vining. “The practice rooms is something we’ve never had before that I’m sure we’ll put to good use.”

The school’s band director, Will Alford, said the original room was only a quarter of the size of the new one.

The recently constructed room gives students plenty of space to spread out, practice their instruments and store equipment.

Alford said he could not be more grateful for the district’s dedication to the band program’s future.

“It’s incredible that they’re recognizing the hard work that our kids put forth as well, in terms of band kids, and they value the work that these kids do. And that they’re willing to put forth money to help these programs be successful,” said Alford.

School leaders said the expansion was desperately needed for the school’s approximately 2,200 enrolled students.

“It really kind of spreads things out a little bit, so that during those transition times, it’s not as crowded in the older part of the building,” Ford said. “And so, it makes it safer as well as puts students in areas that allow them to excel because they’ve got the facility resources now.”

Ford said the extra space will help students get to class easier and have a better overall experience at school.

During Monday’s ribbon cutting celebration for the new wing, Ford also made it a point to highlight retired board member Lamar Allen, without whom the expansion would not exist.

Allen advocated for growth at the high school for many years. Now that extra space has been added, he is looking forward to seeing current and future students benefit for many more years to come.

“I wouldn’t live anywhere else. This is the greatest place there is and the greatest people, so I’m very proud,” said Lamar Allen.

South Effingham High School will also receive a similar expansion in the future, and a new elementary school in the county called Creekside Elementary will officially open in the fall.