Memphis, TN – The day began with bright rays of sunshine and the uplifting sounds of a marching band from Trezevant High School and Woodstock Middle School.
Despite two rescheduling delays, the highly anticipated groundbreaking ceremony for Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ new Frayser Community High School finally took place on Tuesday, April 1. The ceremony marks a significant milestone for MSCS and the Frayser community.
MSCS School Board Vice Chair Stephanie Love said it was fitting the event was held on April Fool’s Day. Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris lightheartedly remarked, “This is serious right? Because I know it’s April 1.”
MSCS interim superintendent Dr. Roderick F. Richmond said, “We care about providing equity and access in all of our neighborhoods … we know this is an under-resourced community.” Richmond’s statement is a testament to MSCS’ commitment to fostering a conducive learning environment.
The 270,000-square-foot school will include advanced broadcast facilities, cutting-edge graphic design classrooms, modern sports facilities, and JROTC facilities. The design also emphasizes durability, safety, and adaptability to accommodate future technological advancements and evolving teaching methods. This initiative represents a collaborative effort between MSCS and local government, with a total investment of $112 million, including a recent allocation of $33.9 million approved by the Shelby County Board of Commissioners.
Among the speakers was Sebastrian Morris, a Frayser native and civil engineering liaison for A2H, the firm behind the school’s design. In his heartfelt speech, Morris shared memories of his childhood, recalling how he used to walk to Whitney Elementary School, then to the former Frayser High School. Growing up on Madewell Street, just a few blocks from Dellwood Avenue, the future site of the new Frayser school, Morris said, “and I’ve been made well.”
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