Video: Houlka Looking Forward To New Beginnings

HOULKA, Miss.(WCBI)—The Chickasaw County School District is anxiously awaiting the completion of a new high school.

Ground was recently broken on a new Houlka Attendance Center.

” To see something rising from the ashes is really special,”said Houlka Principal Anthony Golding.

Three years ago, just before students returned to school, Houlka Attendance Center went up in flames.

“The fire destroyed the building within 10 minutes over the 3 years we’ve worked through the insurance companies and through the board and and we are finally to this spot where we can start building our new building,”said Golding.

Math teacher Angie Halford says it was devastating to see her classroom destroyed, but it also showed her the school is very close.

” When you’ve worked all summer for your kids to come back and everything that you own is in your classroom it can be a difficult time. Luckily we have such a great support system around here. We were able to get supplies, teachers donated books, pencils paper what ever we needed to get the school year started,”said Halford.

Golding says, with construction moving forward it speaks volumes about the commitment the district has to the community.

“Houlka is a very small community much like many other small Mississippi communities. In a small community the school is the hub of the community. Life revolves around the school. So, to see the ground work and to see this building going up is providing a sense of opportunity and optimism for the community. People are really excited about it and we really feel like it’s a step forward,”said Golding.

Since the building burned, students have been relocated.

“Lucky there were classrooms there that we could move to and we’ve been there for a couple years now and we just make due with what we have. Years are different some years we have smaller classes but we are excited about the new building coming a long though,”said Halford.

While the old building has many memories, educators are looking forward to making new ones in a new school.

“We will be so excited to be in a building where the bathroom’s in the building and the buildings new. We don’t have to worry about any leaks or cracks or anything like that and so we are very excited,”said Alford.

The district is hoping to see the foundation poured within the next month. They estimate the whole building to be complete in less than a year.