Brunson Elementary School students joined local civic leaders on Monday morning to officially break ground on the construction of their new school.
The current Brunson campus is 63 years old. Giving current students the best education possible demands an updated space, so Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools used funding from the 2016 bond to facilitate construction of a new school at 1201 N Patterson Avenue, a downtown lot that once hosted the B.F. Huntley Furniture Company.
“When we talk about building schools and building projects that last at least 50 years, Brunson has even outlived that,” said Senior Executive Director of Construction and Planning Darrell Walker. “Today is an historic day for Brunson Elementary.”
In her remarks, Superintendent Tricia McManus talked about the passion the neighborhood has for their school. Brunson’s current campus has given its community a lot of happy memories and still has graduates from the 1950s who make annual trips to reminisce. She looks forward to seeing how that legacy continues once students and staff have access to more modern amenities.
“Brunson has long been a place of high academic standards and learning for students, and it has a strong focus on STEM education – one that the students and staff will carry with them to this new location,” McManus said. “[The new school] is going to bring this area to life for a whole new generation of students.”
The excitement within Brunson’s walls mirrors the excitement in the wider community. Students attended the groundbreaking ceremony to share some of the projects they look forward to working on in their new learning spaces, and they even got their turns with the shovels to officially kick off construction. Principal Anissia Scales says that the promise of a new and improved campus is lifting spirits all over the school.
“While this is only my third year as the lead learner at Brunson Elementary, I can tell you all about the pure joy and excitement around our new school,” Scales said. “We are simply overjoyed.”
Board of Education Chair Deanna Kaplan thanked the Winston-Salem City Council, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners, the county manager’s office, and the voters who all made this massive project possible. It’s encouraging to know that the people of Forsyth County are eager to invest in public education and preparing students for a successful future.
“We wouldn’t be here today without the support of our local community,” Kaplan said. “On behalf of the Board of Education, I would like to thank the Forsyth County voters for approving the $46 million bond project that will turn into this incredible school.”
The new Brunson Elementary School campus is expected to be completed in 2026.