On September 27, Guilford County Schools representatives and community members officially broke ground for the Meredith Leigh Haynes-Bennie Lee Inman Education Center. The new school, located in Jamestown, will be named for a former student as well as a former educator for children like Meredith who have special needs.

Meredith Leigh Haynes attended Gateway Education Center in Greensboro, although her family lived in Jamestown. Diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis as a toddler, she needed specialized programs to meet her needs, even if it meant being transported across the county.

Bennie Lee Inman served as the director of the Greensboro Cerebral Palsy School for more than 30 years and has dedicated her life to ensuring the education, training and success of special needs children. Inman also played an integral role opening the Gateway Education Center.

Meredith’s parents and family members joined in the ceremony, which held special meaning for them not only because of their daughter, but also because the land for the school, part of the 2003 and 2008 School Bonds, was purchased from the Haynes family. Bennie Lee Inman also took part in the ceremony; her son Jeff spoke on her behalf, and Mrs. Inman donned her construction hat and broke ground with other special guests.

Gateway student Savannah Childers cut the ribbon to help kick off the ceremonial groundbreaking.