KATHLEEN, Ga. — A crucial step in the development of a new primary school was finalized at a special called meeting by the Houston County School District, giving the new school a name.
What’s in a name? It’s the defining words people think of when they think of a person, or a place.
We think of names for our children, and when those children grow up, they go to school. If they’re learning In Houston County, where they are going to school is likely named by the school district.
As more children enter the school district, the district adapt and grow; that growth has recently prompted the district to break ground on Langston Road Primary School, expand Veterans High School and start construction work on what they used to call Elementary #14.
On Wednesday, the Board of Education picked a new name for the school, naming it “Matt Arthur Primary School.” The Journal spoke with the district’s Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and District Operations, Dr. Chris Brown, who provided the details.
A few miles east of Matt Arthur Elementary School, the primary school is in the early stages of construction.
According to Brown, the land was purchased for Matt Arthur Primary in December of 2020. Located on Talton Road, the school is in a prime location for development in the area.
“If you’ve been out to that area lately, you can easily see why we’re choosing that location. There are several new neighborhoods going up. They’re continuing to expand on existing neighborhoods,” Brown said.
The naming choice follows a precedent for other primary and elementary school pairs in the district. The 25th elementary school will serve as a feeder school to Matt Arthur Elementary School, Brown mentioned.
“Since the students that will attend Matt Arthur Primary School will be a direct feeder to Matt Arthur Elementary, we think it’s just easy for parents to understand that those two schools are together,” Brown said.
All students in Matt Arthur’s attendance zone attend the elementary school. Grades pre-k through 5th grade — around 850 students — are currently under one roof. Brown said that once the primary school opens, grades pre-k through 2nd will go to Matt Arthur Primary, then will attend Matt Arthur Elementary from 3rd grade to 5th.
The district isn’t stopping here, though. In January, they met with architect to start the design process on a new middle school. An exact location has not yet been picked, but the school will serve as a buffer for growth at Perry Middle School and Bonaire Middle School.
As far as Matt Arthur Primary is concerned, a groundbreaking ceremony is expected to take place in late April and the public is invited to attend. Construction should be complete by summer of 2024, with opening set for August of that year.
HHJ News
