McDuffie County school leaders break ground on new elementary school, one of three current county projects

THOMSON, Ga. (WJBF) – Construction is well underway for a new elementary school coming to McDuffie County.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday at what will become the new J.A. Maxwell Elementary School.

We spoke to Superintendent Dr. Mychele Rhodes, along BOE Chairman Andy Knox.

“This is an incredible day for our school district, and we are so excited to be able to show the community for the first time this beautiful site,” said Rhodes.

The superintendent says the project has been in the works for the last four years, and it’s a treat to see what was once an idea spring to life.

The new school would combine students from the current Maxwell Elementary School with Thomson Elementary School.

Both are two of the oldest schools in the district–Thomson Elementary School was built in 1954, with Maxwell Elementary being built in 1977.

Rhodes says this effort will make a smoother transition for students and their families.

“Every time students transition from one campus to another, they have to learn a new building, and they have to learn new faculty—and in turn the faculty has to learn those students and those families,” said Rhodes. “This enables us to eliminate one of those transitions, increasing academic achievement, but also increasing the relationships—and the value of relationships—that we have with our parents and our students.”

But as those schools combine, it also means saying goodbye to two pieces of history.

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Senior School Board Chairman Andy Knox went to Thomson Elementary several years ago.

He says while the school has served the community well, the state of the building means it’s time for the next chapter.

“That facility served us well for the period of time that we’ve used it, but it’s really outdated now, and it’s time for us to move on,” said Knox.

While construction at that site is well underway, work also continues at two other schools in the county.

Parrish Construction Group is adding four new classrooms at nearby Norris Elementary School, and two new classrooms at Dearing Elementary.

Rhodes says these additions will benefit the school system and the county as a whole.

“It enables us to be able to offer small group instruction more readily to the students in both of those schools. It also prepares for growth in McDuffie County, and that is something that we are looking forward to as we prepare for a workforce here, and having more people move into our community,” said Rhodes.

According to Rhodes, the new Maxwell Elementary School will have a “pinwheel” design, increasing the ability of supervision and safety of students.

It will feature 4 state-of-the-art STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) labs, 37 regular classrooms, along with an outdoor classroom.

The school will also have 4 Special Education rooms, a computer lab, art room, music room, gym, and media center.

Each principal from Thomson and Maxwell Elementary were in attendance for the groundbreaking ceremony.

Rhodes says along with combining students, the new school will see leadership teams combining as well.

“The staffing of course will combine, and we are excited about bringing all of the talents of both of those faculties and school administrators together to create the best environment possible for our students,” said Rhodes.

Representatives from Parrish Construction Group say the total cost of the Maxwell Elementary School project is $36.6 Million.

It will be primarily funded by ESPLOST dollars, which were approved by McDuffie County voters in 2021.

Both Rhodes and Knox say the investment from the county is an investment in the future.

“Our young people are the future of the community, and we’re here to get a facility going that’ll help us accomplish that objective,” said Knox.

Parrish Construction Group says they expect to finish construction by May 31, 2025.

The school system aims to have the new school open at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year.

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