In November 1997, voters passed a levy that would allow the Minford School District to construct a new high school, and ground was broke in October 1998 on Bond Road.
The school is now up and ready to accept students when they return from Christmas vacation on Jan. 3.The $14 million high school is positioned directly behind the current high school building, and amasses 106,000 square feet. At nearly 50 percent larger than the current high school, which comes in at 69,000 square feet.
The new building features a more advanced agriculture-technology classroom, as ell as fully equipped art, science, music and chorus classrooms.
"We will begin scheduling tours of the new high school for the students some time next week," Superintendent Dennis Meade said.
The new school offers nearly 30 classrooms and a large auditeria where not only can the students enjoy lunch, but the school can also hold presentations and concerts for the public on the adjacent stage.
Another impressive feature of the new facilities is their massive gymnasium. The area comes in at 12,000 square feet and is quite possibly the largest gymnasium of all local schools.
As students and visitors enter the main lobby, they are faced with a large window overlooking the library and the school coat of arms etched into the brick walls. The symbol was designed in 1990 by Kevin Gullion, a Minford student as part of a school-wide art contest; and features the words "Mighty Minford Falcons." A phrase coined by former WSAZ sports anchor and 1949 Minford High School graduate Bob Bowen.
As for the current high school, the district plans to demolish the building and build a new middle school. After moving the students into the new middle school, the current middle school will become the primary school.
"We would like to see a branch library in there, but we have no control over that," Meade said.
-Ryan Scott Ottney, The Portsmouth Daily Times