Muscle Shoals school board approves bond to pay for new elementary

By Dr. Chad Holden

Special to The Reporter

The Muscle Shoals Board of Education unanimously approved the issuance of a $60 million bond during a special-called meeting on May 7, clearing the way for construction of a new elementary school that district leaders say will help meet the city’s long-term educational needs.

The new school will be constructed on 11 acres of land located behind Webster Elementary School. The property, which currently includes sports fields, will be redeveloped to accommodate a new campus. The Muscle Shoals City Council approved transferring the land to the school system during a meeting last month.

Johnny Dill of investment banking firm Frazier Lanier told board members the bond financing was secured over a 30-year period with a 4.5% interest rate.

Superintendent Chad Holden said the approval of the bond issue represents another major step toward turning a long-discussed community vision into reality.

“Thanks to the city, the land is available. The money is about to be in the bank. All that remains is to put the finishing touches on the design,” Holden said during the meeting.

Holden said district leaders hope to complete the final design process by July 1 and subsequently put the project out for construction bids.

Plans for the new elementary campus call for it to serve second-, third-, and fourth-grade students. Under the proposed arrangement, all first-grade students in the district would attend Highland Park Elementary School.

District leaders also indicated the Webster and McBride campuses will continue to be utilized in the immediate future. Officials said those campuses could provide valuable space for enrollment growth or future district needs.

The elementary school project has been a topic of discussion within the community for several years as school officials have examined ways to modernize facilities and address long-term growth.

In addition to approving the bond issuance, the board also authorized a long-term lease agreement with the City of Muscle Shoals for use of the Airport Sports Complex. The agreement will allow school athletic teams to have dedicated baseball and softball facilities for practices and games.

Superintendent Holden thanked Muscle Shoals City Council President Donnie Linley, who attended the special called meeting, for his leadership in helping finalize the agreement between the city and the school system.

“Having our own baseball and softball fields is another dream that is now becoming a reality,” Holden said. “We’ve been talking about this for years, and we’re now taking action on this issue.”

Holden added that the school system plans to invest in improvements at the sports complex to ensure student-athletes have access to high-quality facilities for years to come.

“The school system is committed to making an investment into the complex to ensure that the school teams have a first-class place to play ball for generations to come,” Holden said.

The May 7 meeting marked a significant evening for the district, with school officials advancing two major projects aimed at expanding educational opportunities and improving athletic facilities for future students.