By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
After more than a decade without opening a new school, Madison County Schools has officially unveiled its newest campus—a $45 million investment designed to accommodate the region’s rapidly growing student population.
School leaders, county commissioners and state legislators gathered Friday for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of Sparkman Intermediate School, the district’s first new school in 12 years.
Located in northwest Madison County, the 113,000-square-foot campus will welcome its first students on August 5 for the 2026-2027 school year. The school has the capacity to serve 1,200 students but will begin with approximately 800 fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students from Madison Crossroads Elementary, Harvest Elementary and Sparkman Middle School.
The state-of-the-art facility features 44 classrooms, four special education classrooms, an art lab and a band room.
Superintendent Kenneth Kubik said the project represents years of careful financial planning by district leaders, including recently retired Chief School Financial Officer Karen O’Bannon, who helped develop a long-term strategy to fund both Sparkman Intermediate and the future Hazel Green Middle School, scheduled to open in 2027.
Principal Rico Williams, who brings 13 years of experience in Madison County Schools, said his vision is to build “the best school in North Alabama.”
Williams said the school’s guiding theme, “Together, We Spark Greatness,” reflects a commitment to creating a welcoming environment where students are inspired to learn, teachers are empowered to succeed, and every child is encouraged to reach their fullest potential.
District officials say the new campus is another major step toward meeting the educational needs of one of Alabama’s fastest-growing communities.