On Wednesday, Sept. 21, the Limestone County School system broke ground on the new Elkmont Elementary School.

This serves as the beginning of the more than $30 million project that has been in planning for several years.

“We’ve worked together throughout the last maybe year and a half or so to make sure we had this great school and great plans,” said Superintendent Randy Shearouse to The News Courier.

Elkmont Elementary School principal Larry Saulsberry told The News Courier, “this is a great day in our school’s history. We at Elkmont are very excited for the beginning of this much needed development.”

He went on to say, “this new building will serve our growing community well.”

The LCS Board of Education has partnered with the Alabama Elk River Development Agency to promote economic growth with the building of the new school.

“Our partnership with the Board of Education will not only benefit the students, but it will also promote economic growth in the surrounding area,” said Executive Director of the Alabama Elk River Development Agency Carissa Lovvorn regarding the building project.

“We are excited to see what the future holds for the Elkmont community, and we are very proud to be a part of the progress that is happening in North Alabama,” Lovvorn added.

Representative Danny Crawford was in attendance and reminded people of the road construction that would take place alongside the development of the school.

“The safety of our children is of the most importance to me, which is why I have worked with ALDOT to see acceleration and deceleration lanes paved to assist in traffic flow with the new school,” Crawford told The News Courier.