Lubeck Elementary Principal Melanie Cutright speaks to a crowd gathered at the site where the new school will be built for a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday. Cutright said the current Lubeck Elementary holds a lot of memories but it’s time for a new school to be built. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

LUBECK — “It’s time for a new Lubeck school,” Lubeck Elementary Principal Melanie Cutright said during a groundbreaking ceremony held Wednesday at the construction site of the new facility being built on Clark Road, off West Virginia 68.

“I have mixed emotions, because every inch of that old building has a memory for me, but after being back here for a year, I can tell with the building that it’s time,” she said. “I appreciate the public’s willingness to vote for that. It is a special, special school, and I know every school feels like they’re special, but Lubeck is a very neat place. We have a great staff, great faculty, great kids and parents and community members to support. So, I just want to say thank you to everyone, and we’re excited to see how this will turn out.”

The event drew members of the Wood County Board of Education and district administrators, state representatives from the area, students and staff from Lubeck Elementary and representatives from the West Virginia School Building Authority.

“This is a major investment that the School Building Authority has made to Wood County, ” Authority Executive Director Andy Neptune said. “But we know that we’ve got some great architects and engineers and contractors that’s going to make a beautiful site for Wood County and here for Lubeck.”

Board of Education President Justin Raber said it was an exciting day for everyone in the community.

A groundbreaking event for the new Lubeck Elementary being built on Dupont Road was held Wednesday with Wood County Board of Education members, school administrators and local state representatives taking part in the ceremony. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

“This is not just for Lubeck, not just for Wood County Schools, but for every student, family, educator and community member who believes in the power of public education,” Raber said.

He described the new elementary school as a “modern learning facility designed for the world our children are growing into, not the one we grew up in.”

Raber said the school will feature flexible classrooms, advanced technology and spaces that support both academic and emotional growth.

“This campus will be a place where students aren’t just taught, but they are inspired,” Raber said.

Assistant Superintendent of Operations Kaleb Lawrence outlined the next steps and what the community can expect in the coming months.

Students and staff from Lubeck Elementary take part in a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday where a new eschool is being built on Dupont Road. Construction is scheduled to finish in April of 2027. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

“They’ll be seeing equipment moving every day, even with the rain,” he said.

Lawrencee said the construction team is still working to move dirt around right now to level the area and get it ready for construction of the structure.

“That will happen quickly,” Lawrence said. “That will take a couple months, and we will start seeing some progress. Then they’ll focus on where the actual footprint of the building goes and dig that out.”

Lawrence said the site will be closed to the public to help construction move to the final completion date.

“The final product is supposed to be completed in April 2027,” Lawrence said.

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com.