Bragg dedication a blast!

By Billy Woods

WM School District

The West Memphis School District started the 2017-18 school year with a detonation loud enough to be heard in Central Arkansas.

Teachers and administrators reported for work on Thursday with a flurry of activity that lured the State Department of Education's commissioner. Most notable, however, and with much anticipation, was the formal dedication of a new Bragg Elementary that also brought out local and other state dignitaries.

The brand new 72,000 square-foot Bragg will open for classes on Aug. 14.

Amidst a group that included architects, construction workers, West Memphis mayor Bill Johnson, state senator Keith Ingram, school board members, state reps Milton Nicks and Deborah Ferguson, superintendent Jon Collins and State Department of Education Commissioner Johnny Key, the ribbon was cut on the state-of-the-art facility which will include enormous space for offices, classrooms and a gymnasium.

Key, who earlier in the day addressed the district's teachers, said he wanted to come to West Memphis to see the final products, not only at Bragg, but at four other schools which underwent major construction renovations.

"Not long after I was named commissioner I wanted to know where the good stories were in education in Arkansas," said Key. "It didn't take long for West Memphis to jump off the page. Sometimes it's the big things, sometimes it's the little things. I'd say today is a big thing. I am so impressed particularly with the (Bragg) library with the outdoor reading area. Schools shouldn't be about locking kids in a room. Give them a great experience. This whole building looks like it's going to be a great experience for the Bragg students."

After the ribbon cutting, hundreds who came out for the dedication were invited to tour the facility.

Key, along with Ingram, toured Faulk and Richland elementaries before landing at Bragg.

"It looks like y'all are on the move in West Memphis," Key said with a smile.

"When we noticed what was happening here a year or so ago, we wanted to send our (State Department of Education) video crew here to do a video on your partnership with FedEx and ASU-Mid-South," Key added. "It's up on Youtube and it just tells a marvelous story about what's going on here. Now, with all the renovation and construction it's just further proof that things are moving along pretty swiftly in West Memphis."

The completion of the renovations at Faulk, Richland, Weaver Elementary, Maddux Elementary and the Academies of West Memphis is the end of Phase I was the WMSD's multi-phase renovation plan to upgrade facilities.