By Debbie Adams
The entire student body, faculty, and staff at W.E. Cundiff Elementary School in Vinton joined
with town, county, and state officials on August 28 for the official groundbreaking for a multi-
million-dollar renovation and expansion project at the school on Hardy Road.
project at W.E. Cundiff Elementary in Vinton is underway after an official ground-breaking
ceremony on Aug. 28. (photo courtesy of RCPS)
Roanoke County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Ken Nicely told students and other guests
gathered in the parking lot for the ceremony that the school first opened over 50 years ago in
1972 as Hardy Road Elementary and “needs to be updated and modernized.”
He noted that the groundbreaking at Cundiff is just one of three scheduled in the next month in
the county. Glen Cove Elementary is also beginning an extensive renovation project. In addition,
construction is set to begin on a new Career and Technical Education Center off Peters Creek
Road that will replace the Burton Center for Arts and Technology – a “historic level of
construction and renovation projects” for the county.
“So many people came together to make this happen,” Nicely said. He commented that while the
next two years with the school under construction will cause some inconveniences, the end result
will be worth it. He said that he looks forward to the ribbon-cutting for the school in fall 2026.
He introduced several dignitaries who were in attendance – State Senators David Suetterlein and
Chris Head, Vinton Mayor Brad Grose, School Board members Tim Greenway (Vinton’s
representative), David Linden, Shelley Clemons, and Cheryl Facciani, Board of Supervisors
members Tammy Shepherd (Vinton’s representative), Phil North, and Martha Hooker, Roanoke
County Administrator Richard Caywood and Assistant Administrator Doug Blount, Vinton
Town Manager Pete Peters, RCPS Director of Facilities and Operations Todd Kageals,
representatives from the Cundiff, Brown, and Musselwhite families, and representatives from
Branch Build and RRMM Architects.
Greenway thanked School Board members past and present who worked so diligently to bring
the project to the groundbreaking stage.
Principal Ashley McCallum said that the “momentous occasion” of the groundbreaking
ceremony held special significance as her life has come full circle – she attended W.E. Cundiff
as a child when it was known as Hardy Road Elementary and now serves as principal and will
witness the modernization of the facility.
the ceremony. SCA representatives Eden Frye and Tyler Jones assisted in the groundbreaking.
Pictured left to right are Assistant Principal Heather Everhardt, second grade teacher Anne Jones
who has taught at WEC for 20 years, SCA student representative Tyler Jones, second grade
teacher Robin Ard who has taught at WEC for 21 years (the longest of any current staff
member), SCA representative Eden Frye, and Principal Ashley McCallum. (photo by Debbie Adams)
“Our community is filled with pride,” McCallum said. “This is the start of a new chapter, new
adventures, and new opportunities here in Vinton. This is more than walls; it’s a place to grow,
learn, and build a community where every child has the chance to shine.”
The W.E. Cundiff project is estimated to cost about $29 million between renovations and
additions totaling approximately 75,000 square feet. The school will remain open during the
project with learning cottages already installed for student use as the work progresses. W.E.
Cundiff serves approximately 620 students.
In his remarks, Greenway said that the improvements to Cundiff and Glen Cove and the new
CTE Center have been needed for many years. Renovations and expansions at Glen Cove and
W.E. Cundiff will include removal of outdated open concept classrooms, which will allow for
more effective instruction and greater opportunities for interactive, hands-on instruction.
The ceremony ended with McCallum leading the entire school in a loud countdown to break
ground, formally beginning the project.
The Roanoke County School Board has selected a proposal submitted by Branch Companies,
RRMM Architects and Balzer & Associates to renovate and expand Glen Cove and W.E.
Cundiff.
The entire project for all three schools will cost approximately $130 million dollars with $80
million dedicated to build the new CTE center and about $50 million to renovate and expand the
two elementary schools.
According to School Board Chair Brent Hudson, who was unable to attend the groundbreaking,
“The funding for this project was the result of a memorandum of understanding between the
Roanoke County School Board and the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors earlier this year to
provide $130 million to allow these projects to start as soon as summer 2024 with a possible
completion date of summer-fall 2026. We thank the Board of Supervisors for working with us to
move these projects forward quickly.”
the modernized WEC after renovations and additions are complete. (photo courtesy of RRMM Architects)
