(all photos by Elaine Bailey)

On August 24, 2022, the county held an official groundbreaking for the new high school. Many families, students, chair board members, the WCHS cheerleading team, band, and other officials showed up for the event including Andy Barr (Kentucky’s U.S. Representative), Danny Adkins (Superintendent), and Conner Brumley (WCHS’s Junior class president). Construction on the high school is expected to be completed by September 2024 and students are planned to be moved into the building that December. The new school will be located on Schoolhouse Road across Woodford County Middle School. The last groundbreaking took place 59 years ago and Woodford County High School has been the only high school in Versailles since 1963. Families all over the town say it is finally time for a new school. It was a project that took the community to come together to speak out for the students.

The new school will include larger classrooms, a new media center, state-of-the-art science labs, and a music suite that doubles as a storm shelter. Anna Taylor, a Junior at WCHS says,”It is hard to function in the current school, especially when you look over and you see a bucket in the middle of the hall to catch the water from the leaks. I believe Woodford as a whole is very excited for this change because we need a better impression for our sports teams when we host games and events.” Delaynie Shuck, a WCHS freshman and future student at this new building says,”I am really excited about the new school and how there’s not going to be any leaks, mold, or scary animals. I am excited for new opportunities and classrooms that are hopefully bigger. I am ready for a nicer school that I can feel safe in and where I can enjoy my last two years of High School.” This is a huge step in Woodford and something everyone is looking forward to.