Crum students in new school building

WAYNE COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- After the start date was pushed back for them several times, students at Crum Pre-K through 8 are finally in their new school building.

The school year started for them Tuesday.

They're starting school more than a week after the rest of their counterparts in Wayne County.

Students in the county went back Aug. 24.

Students at Crum were originally supposed to start back Aug. 28. They pushed the start date back for them after school leaders realized the school wouldn't be ready for the start of school on the 24th.

Then the day was pushed back again to Sept. 5, the day after Labor Day to give them more time to get the school ready.

But the doors to the new school opened for the first time ever to students and staff on Tuesday morning, a day they had all been anxiously awaiting.

"The level of excitement is off the charts," said Principal Nona Newsome. "It's taken a little more time. We wanted to get it right for our students, but it's worth every minute of it."

This new school is a major upgrade from what the students were used to, seeing that their old school building was built back in 1938.

And although the students and staff had to wait a little longer for the school to open, it's no big deal for the students. The delayed start won't even mean a longer school year for them. There are still set to get out at the same time as the other students in Wayne County because they have enough instruction hours in the school day to make up for lost time.

When the announcement came that the start of the year would be delayed for students, there were a lot of frustrated parents, upset that their school wouldn't be opening on time like the new C-K Elementary, both of which were paid for by a bond that was passed by voters in 2014.

However, many parents and students we talked with say it was well worth the wait to be in this new building.

"The kids did without for a long time but it is well worth it when you see the school, it's beautiful," said Kimberly Lockard.

Now their next few days and weeks will be spent settling in, getting to know each other and learning to navigate the new school building they will now call home.