Ground Broken For New Aviation School

Fairhope, Alabama

Ground was broken this morning for the new $2.5 million aviation technical school at the Sonny Callahan Airport. The school, expected to be completed by next Fall, is a joint project of the Fairhope Airport Authority, Baldwin County Board of Education, Faulker State and Enterprise State Colleges.

Airport Authority Chairman Chuck Zunk said they were "more than happy to share the land with the school and the students who will be using it."

Zunk thanked all the "numerous partners who helped get the project off the ground"; but singled out local School Board Representative Bob Callahan who he called the "founder of the idea and project."

Zunk: "If I had a hat, I'd take it off to you."

Zunk summarized: "This is all about the students ... and the opportunity we're creating for them. Our job is to provided a legacy of education ... for those who come behind us."

SUPERINTENDENT'S REMARKS

Baldwin County School Superintendent Alan Lee called the project "unlike any other I've heard of in Alabama or the United States" -- and praised all the various dispirit entities for coming together "to see it through to completion."

Lee: "Its going to be a credit to the community ... going to see an economic impact because of this in
the future."

Lee said his only reservation was he wasn't "sure we are building it large enough."

Lee: "I believe in a short period ... it will be maxed out ... have to start thinking about the next construction we need to do."

BRADLEY BYRNE'S REMARKS

Fairhope resident, and current candidate for U.S Congress,  Bradley Byrne told the Times afterward  the project started "way back" when he was still a state Senator.

Byrne called the persistence of the people involved to make it come true "really inspiring."

Byrne: "I'm very proud of our community for pulling this off. Its a big deal."

















Comments