Anne Waits/Staff

(From left) Board of Directors Chairperson Sherolyn Bishop, Fox Creek High School Principal Tim Murph and Board of Directors Treasurer Steven Elliott pose with their shovels as they get ready to break ground on the new Fox Creek High School in Edgefield C

Fox Creek High School broke ground last Saturday for the new $5.9 million charter school complex to be located in Edgefield County.

According to the invitation, this marks an historic event in South Carolina as Fox Creek will be the first start-up charter high school to build a traditional school building in state history.

This marks the fifth year since the charter school was first established in a converted video poker building on Martintown Road. Fox Creek Principal, Dr. Tim Murph, said plans have been underway for at least four years for the construction of a new building. The new school will be built on a 64-acre tract of land purchased two years ago from the Medical College of Georgia located on Shortcut Road between Highway 25 and Stevens Road.

The facility will provide educational services for high school students, grades 9-12, and is expected to eventually include full sports facilities.

"I've seen this day coming for some time," said Dr. Murph. "It's exciting, but I will be even more excited when we have the ribbon cutting. There will be a Phase 2 and Phase 3. It will be a process as we continue to meet the community's educational needs."

Groundbreaking Chairman Randy Parks gave the opening remarks at Saturday's groundbreaking event, followed by the welcome and recognition of honored guests by Dr. Murph.

The invocation was given by Dr. Paul Noe of Sweetwater Baptist Church. There were several guest speakers.

Board of Directors Chairperson Sherolyn Bishop called the event a "dream come true" and said one day students who graduate from Fox Creek High School will be the future teachers, doctors and parents who move back here and pass along those values to their children. Hopefully, some of those students will become teachers at Fox Creek.

She called that idea, "awesome."

Funding was provided for the new school by the USDA Rural Development through the Communities Facilities Program.

Jessie Rischer, area director for the USDA Rural Development, was on hand and explained that the direct loan of $5,864,500 was taxpayer's money provided through the federal government.

"Your money coming back here to serve this community," he said.

Rep. Don Smith, District 83, S.C. House of Representatives, said that five years ago when Fox Creek High School first began, there was some question as to whether it would be successful or not.

"I don't think there's any question that Fox Creek has been successful beyond any thought that I had," he said. He added that he believes the school will be so successful that they will have to look toward expansion in a few years.

He spoke directly to the students, who he called "the most important folks out there."

"Fox Creek is proud of you," he said. "And we want you to be proud of it."

Dr. Murph said the contracted completion date for the new school is May 24, with Edgefield Construction Company being the contractor.