Video: New Classroom Space Dedicated At Lee County High School

SHANNON, MISS. (WCBI) – For Espantasia Edwards, choir practice is a highlight of her day, especially in the new music room at Shannon High School.

“It has helped us a lot,” Edwards said.

In the past two years, the high school senior has seen a new cafeteria and now a 19 classroom, two story addition built on campus.

“It boosts our confidence in our school and we’re really proud of everything they are doing for us,” she said.

The two phase addition is part of the 13.5 million dollar bond issue passed overwhelmingly by Lee County voters in 2013.

Principal Bill Rosenthal has been at the school for 25 years and says the additions were badly needed at the aging campus. The new addition also means 9th and 10th graders are together, while 11th and 12th graders have their own space.

“It wasn’t so much crowding as it was being spread over the whole area, we had two metal buildings, we had taken an old gym and made an auditorium and three classrooms,” Rosenthal said.

The classroom additions are the latest cause for celebration at Shannon High School.  Administrators and teachers are especially excited about a big improvement in graduation rates.  Several years ago, fewer than 50 percent of students graduated, now it’s nearly 80 percent.

“One thing is putting the ninth graders together, one thing is commitment from our teachers, also the community getting involved, dealing with kids that are, possible dropouts,” Rosenthal said.

The 24 thousand square foot addition was finished just in time for the start of the new school year.

Additions at the Guntown campus are expected to be completed by the end of this year.