WISD holds ribbon cutting for Early Childhood Center

Monday morning, Whitesboro Independent School District (WISD) staff, trustees, administrators and community members gathered for a ribbon cutting for the new Early Childhood Center (ECC) that will serve WISD students in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and first grade. The school will open the first day of school, on Thursday, Aug. 13.

Superintendent Ryan Harper welcomed the crowd for the 8 a.m. ceremony with words of thanks. He voiced his appreciation to the team of engineers, designers and construction crew who managed to complete the project in time for the scheduled first day of school. 

Harper also thanked the school board for seeing what Whitesboro needed “to continue to be a destination school district and one that provided the facilities and safe learning environments that we have now.” 
Harper also thanked the administrative staff who have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to help the project get to completion.

Especially, Harper thanked the community for approving the $118 million bond that passed in 2024, making this project possible.

Harper then introduced the school’s inaugural principal, Holly Burns, who has previously served as vice principal at Whitesboro Intermediate School and Hayes Primary School respectively. He also voiced appreciation for the staff, who has been in a holding pattern over the summer, wondering when they’d be able to move into their classrooms and have everything set up in time for Meet the Teacher next week.

School Board President Jeff Patterson also addressed the crowd, thanking Superintendent Harper, the administrative team and staff, as well as the City of Whitesboro who all had a hand in the successful completion of this project.
“It’s an exciting day for our school district and our community. This building is more than just a new facility – it’s an investment in the future of our community,” he said. “May this always be a place where children feel safe, encouraged and excited to learn.”

Harper led three ribbon cuttings, the first of which featured the WISD school board. Next, the ECC staff was invited to participate in a ribbon cutting. A third ribbon cutting featured young WISD students who will reap the rewards of the new ECC campus.

After the ribbon cuttings, Harper welcomed attendees to enter and walk through the building, with the caveat that a few details were still being finalized. A library countertop wasn’t quite finished; cafeteria furniture was actively being assembled; a few cabinetry items were awaiting arrival; and the gymnasium was off-limits while crews completed work. However, things were on track for the building to welcome students on the first day of the school year, Aug. 13.

Ribbon cutting attendees were asked to finish their visit by 9 a.m., at which point school athletes would be helping to move teachers’ boxes and supplies into the building so staff could begin setting up their classrooms.

The community is invited to an Open House on Saturday, Aug. 15 from 10 a.m. to noon. At this time, folks can roam the building and see what the district has been working on for the past year and a half. The Early Childhood Center is located on the same side of Fourth Street as the high school.