Video: Completion of New Hackleburg High School Building in Sight

[jwplatform HTmV5bMj]

HACKLEBURG, Ala. (WCBI) — It’s back-to-school week for schools in West Alabama. And that means lots of excitement. But nowhere is it building more than in a town that’s been without for more than three years.

For the past three years, Laine Black has spent her high school career in a trailer turned school after an EF-5 tornado leveled the town of Hackleburg in April of 2011.

“I’ve gotten used to it. First it was very different, but when we go to the other schools it makes you realize the little things you don’t have, especially lockers,” Black said. “You just forget what being home really feels like.”

But her senior year will be all the more special. Teachers have had to adapt to cramped quarters and lack of facilities during the long recovery.

“Typically you have to stay at your desk,” science teacher Brandon McDuffa said. “You can walk back and forth a little bit, but you don’t have any mobility. You can’t get up and down the aisles where the kids are at.

But just over the hill from the temporary campus stands a crown jewel, just months from opening. It’s a ray of hope for everyone.

“Nothing was as quick as we wanted it to be, but it’s worked out very well and we can start seeing the end results, too,” Hackleburg High School Principal John Hardin said. “And so, we are thankful for everybody that helped us, but we’re ready to move in our new building.”

Even though the new Hackleburg High School is months away from completion, the community is looking forward to its first home game.

That Aug. 29 game is the kickoff to what will be a special year.

When the lights turn on and we’re back at home and we’re playing ball in our own stadium, it’s going to be — I think it’s going to be a special night for everybody,” McDuffa said. “I think there is going to be a lot of people with a lot of happy, crying tears of joy, the whole nine yards, and I think it will be a packed house.”

For the next few months, students will continue to use the halls as their lockers, but come Christmas time, their school will be ready with a nice, red bow.

Neighboring Phil Campbell High School will open its new doors after Labor Day, after having spent three years in a mobile school.

Categories: Local News

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *