ROCKINGHAM — Richmond Senior High School celebrated a milestone Friday morning with the dedication of its new auxiliary gymnasium — a project that, for the first time in the school’s history, will bring all Raiders together on one campus.
“This dedication is about more than opening a new building,” said Principal Joyce McRae.
“With the addition of this facility, we’re able to bring our ninth-grade students onto the high school campus and for the very first time in our school’s history, we’ll start the year with every Raider on one campus.”
The new facility includes six classrooms, a full auxiliary gym, a state-of-the-art weight room, and two health and PE classrooms. The space will be used daily for instruction, physical education and athletic practices, allowing more flexibility for programs and events.
“It’s a space that will be busy from the first day of school, serving students in ways that strengthen both learning and athletics,” McRae said. She credited the Richmond County Board of Education, district leadership, the maintenance department, and school staff for making the project a reality.
Superintendent Dr. Joe Ferrell praised the decision to use federal ESSER funds for a facility that would serve students for years to come.
“One of the most significant impacts of this project is that it made it possible to move our ninth-grade students to Richmond Senior High School,” Ferrell said. “Having every Raider on one campus will benefit them in ways that go far beyond convenience. It means ninth graders can access the same academic programs, elective courses and extracurricular opportunities as upperclassmen without traveling between campuses.”
Ferrell also recognized the contributions of Richmond County Commissioners, County Manager, LS3P architects, Muter Construction and maintenance director Steven King.
Board of Education Chairman Corey Satterfield reflected on his days as a teacher in 1995, when conversations about moving ninth graders to the high school were only beginning.
“To finally have ninth graders out here, where all high school kids are under one roof — that is amazing,” he said.
Satterfield honored educators Vivian Hilton and Ashley Larson for their leadership and contributions to the school. “We could not have asked for two better people to come up and cut this ribbon and get this place started,” he said.
As the celebration came to a close, McRae looked toward the future.
“This facility is going to be a space that’s used and appreciated every single day. It is a milestone for our school and a place that brings new opportunities for our students and strengthens our campus as a whole. It will truly continue to make a difference for years to come.”