By FULLER ROYAL

“There are more smiles per capita here today than any other spot in the nation.”

That quote by Columbus County Schools Director of Accountability Paul Pope was repeated throughout the day last Friday by Williams Township Elementary School Principal Mitch Nance.

Nance, hauling a box of “lost” air conditioner register covers in his arms, said he was in total agreement with Pope, who had made the statement during a morning visit to the new school.

At 8 a.m. Friday, hundreds of Williams Township’s students had their first real look at the new multi-million-dollar elementary school, the first built in the county since 1979.

They arrived by car and bus, and entered bright, wide and roomy classrooms. Students and teachers commented on the hallways filled with natural light from banks of side and overhead windows.

Workers were still on hand fixing odds and ends. New furniture was still being delivered. Filing cabinets in guidance rooms weren’t exactly like they should be. Boxes were still strewn about, waiting to be emptied. Some phones weren’t working.

Nance called them “growing pains.”

It didn’t matter. The teachers were too excited to really notice, as were the students. Their 32-month wait was over.

Students can now travel to any building on campus under canopies and out of the rain.
“I’m glad to be out of the mobile units,” said second-grader Roth Edwards, 7.

“I like the bigger classes,” said classmate Dakota Hammond, 8.

Another second-grader, Hayley Tedder, 7, said she liked the tall ceilings and the two-story atriums with their windows. The architect calls them “light-storys.”

“It’s absolutely wonderful,” said seventh-grade teacher Peggy Underwood. “We’re going to try hard to keep all this clean. We are so proud. It’s just fantastic.”

Seventh-grader Lauren Dudley, 12, said she thinks the new school is pretty.

“It’s wonderful,” she said. “You can’t explain it. It’s all so big and new. There is a lot more room and I’m glad to be out of the trailer.”

Classmate Eric Long, 12, said he couldn’t get over how much room there is.

“I’m glad I get to enjoy this for the next two years,” he said.

Another seventh-grader, Andrew Mayes, 12, said he was glad to be at Williams.

“We’re so proud of all this,” he said. “And we’re going to keep it looking good.”

“It’s so wonderful,” said teacher Sandra Pridgen. “We’ve been smiling all day.”

Third-grader Madison Benton, 8, said, “I think it’s a lot like South Columbus High School – its bigger than ever and so nice.”

“It’s pretty with lots of things to do,” said classmate Mikayla Sibbett, 8.