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TAR HEEL, NC— Bladen County Schools proudly celebrated the official grand opening of the new Tar Heel School with a ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning.
The ceremony, held at the new school site, began at 8:30 a.m. with a warm welcome and opening remarks from Bladen County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jason Atkinson and Tar Heel’s Mayor Pro Tem, Steve Dowless. The invocation was delivered by Tommy Puryear of Tar Heel Baptist Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by students from Tar Heel School. The National Anthem was beautifully sung by Everlee Nance, a student at the school.
The program featured insightful remarks from Blair Bordeaux of Bordeaux Construction, Robbie Ferris of SFL+A Architects, Vinston Rozier, former Chair of the Bladen County Board of Education, and Ray Britt, former Chair of the County Commissioners. Each speaker highlighted the collaborative efforts and dedication that brought the vision of the new Tar Heel School to fruition.
Tim Benton, Chair of the Bladen County Board of Education, delivered the closing remarks, expressing deep gratitude to all who contributed to the project. He acknowledged the unwavering support from the community, school board members, county commissioners, construction teams, architects, and funding support from the North Carolina Education Lottery.
Also present at the ribbon cutting were Sam Shumate, Graham Overholt, and Katie Smith representing Senator Ted Budd, Senator Thom Tillis, and Congressman David Rouzer, respectively.
The ceremony concluded with the official ribbon cutting—Tar Heel students performing the honor, officially marking the opening of the new facility. Attendees then had the opportunity to explore the state-of-the-art school building, enjoy light refreshments in the cafeteria, and purchase memorabilia from the old school.
The center logo from the previous school’s gymnasium and the old scoreboard are being auctioned via closed bid. The minimum bid is $250, and bids will be accepted at the school office until noon on Thursday, June 27.
The new Tar Heel School stands as a testament to the community’s dedication to education and the future success of its students. Superintendent Dr. Jason Atkinson shared his enthusiasm, stating, “This new facility will provide our students with the resources and environment they need to thrive. We look forward to many years of success and achievement here at Tar Heel School.”
The celebration was a true community event, reflecting the shared pride and optimism for the future of education in Bladen County. The state-of-the-art facility symbolizes a new era of learning and opportunity for the students of Tar Heel School.
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