'There is so much excitement': Buffalo Gap holds ribbon cutting for brand new middle school

SWOOPE — "It's way nicer than the old school," said Kayla Botkin, a rising seventh grader.

Botkin began her middle school journey at Beverley Manor, which closed following last school year after serving students for 35 years. Students from the school will now attend one of two brand new middle schools in Augusta County. Both Buffalo Gap and Riverheads will open new schools this year.

On Wednesday, Gap held its ribbon cutting and open house for the community.

"Beverley Manor was like really old," said Madison Botkin, Kayla's cousin. "This is really new."

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Unlike Beverley Manor, which was located eight miles from Buffalo Gap High School and 14 miles from Riverheads High School, the two new middle schools are attached to the high schools in their communities. Now, all five middle schools in the county are within the same complex as the high schools.

Buffalo Gap Middle School is a two-story building, attached to the high school’s kitchen and built to the left of the high school. Construction began in 2022. The budgeted cost for the school was $31,138,857.

"We want to welcome you to an event we have waited for and planned for for a very long time," Buffalo Gap Middle School Principal Yvonne Howdyshell told the crowd gathered for the ribbon cutting. "I stepped out here tonight and saw all the people here to support us and it touched me so much. That's one of the things I am so excited about being here in this school, the opportunity to work with a tight-knit community."

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Superintendent Eric Bond said this was the culmination of 10 years of planning. The project was part of the 10-year capital plan by the Augusta County School Board.

Augusta County School Board Chair David Shiflett said the school was long overdue. Because of the distance to Beverley Manor, the school had a shorter school day than other schools. Now, Shiflett said, those students will receive the same instructional time as every other student.

"About the only thing I can say is, 'Wow,'" Shiflett said when he took the microphone to address the crowd gathered in the parking lot. "This is quite a facility."

On Wednesday, Suzanne Brubeck was in the school lobby, cutting and serving cake during the open house. She is a school counselor at Buffalo Gap Middle, coming from Beverley Manor where she held the same position.

"There is so much excitement," Brubeck said. "We're so excited to be here among the community and see a lot of the kids that we have seen for years, but to do it in a smaller space, a space that's new. It's just really exciting to start fresh and go from there."

— Patrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Connect with Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and on Instagram @hitepatrick . Subscribe to us at newsleader.com

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: 'There is so much excitement': Buffalo Gap holds ribbon cutting for brand new middle school