The overwhelming excitement and energy inside of the brand new Elkmont Elementary was palpable Tuesday evening, July 30, as hundreds of community members and teachers flooded the lobby of the recently developed school for its inaugural ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“This project has been a longtime coming for the great people of this community,” Limestone County Schools Superintendent Randy Shearouse told The News Courier after the event concluded. “It’s been talked about for a longtime, and it’s so nice to see it finally come to fruition. This great facility will bring a lot of pride to the Town of Elkmont.”

This state-of-the-art facility — complete with multiple touch screens and sensory rooms for overstimulated students — officially opened its doors on Friday, Aug. 2, as county schools kicked off the school year.

The elementary school, which for many years has shared the same campus grounds as both Elkmont Middle School and Elkmont High School, will be able to accommodate 750 students.

“We just opened the new town hall, and now being able to celebrate the opening of this school shows just how quickly our town is growing,” Elkmont Mayor Tracy Compton said. “I promise, we won’t be able to recognize this area in 20 years, and one of the main reasons for that will be this school.”

Planning and construction for the new school, which is located just off Highway 127, began in 2021. A little more three years later, and the train depot themed school has already brought in more than 600 students from the old Elkmont Elementary and the recently closed Piney Chapel Elementary School.

As a way to honor the history of the two former schools, the Elkmont Elementary’s colors incorporate both the red of Elkmont and the blue of Piney Chapel, showcasing the collaborative effort it will take to get every student “All Aboard” the learning train.

“I’ve always believed, the school is the lifeblood of a community, and I’m not just saying that because I’m biased,” New principal for Elkmont Elementary Lee Francis said. “We want all parents and kids to feel comfortable being here, and I’m just so excited to finally get the kids in here. We go into education to see those kids eagerness to learn, and I can’t wait to see their reaction when they walk in here.”

As a sign of their continued endeavor to be beneficial to the community as a whole, the gym of Elkmont Elementary has incorporated a storm shelter for the people of Elkmont to utilize.

“Being an Elkmont alumni myself, and having had my own kids go here, I can tell you this is a tight-knit community that really cares about each other,” Limestone County Commission Chairman Collin Daly told The News Courier. “I’ve got a grandson starting the pre-K program here, and I know he will love this place. This place will be used to define how great Elkmont is for years and years to come.”