When Columbus Municipal School District Superintendent Cherie Labat was called up to provide an update on plans for Friday’s bicentennial celebration of Franklin Academy, she prefaced remarks by addressing the weather.
The forecast showed a cold front moving into the area on Friday.
“For everybody out there who is hoping for snow, just stop it,” she quipped. “We don’t need any of that.”
Because of COVID-19, Friday’s celebration will be held outdoors where attendees can maintain social distancing. The event will be held in front of the school, with Third Avenue blocked off to accommodate a grandstand and other outdoor seating.
Labat said all is in order for the one-hour ceremony marking the historic founding of Franklin Academy, which was chartered as the first public school in Mississippi on Feb. 12, 1821.
The celebration will begin at 4 p.m. with the Columbus High School Choir presenting the National Anthem and the Columbus Junior ROTC and members from Columbus Air Force Base presenting the colors.
Speakers will include CHS senior Jacob Badcock providing welcoming remarks followed by video remarks from Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann. CHS senior Avani Poindexter and Columbus-Lowndes Public Library archivist Mona Vance-Ali will speak on the history of the school and education.
Proclamations from local and state elected officials will precede musical selection from the CHS Choir before closing remarks from Labat.
The celebration will conclude with the unveiling of a monument that pays tribute to the school and its historic place in Mississippi history.
“Our staff did a great job with the preparations,” Labat said. “The school looks better than it ever has and everything is in order. This is going to be a exciting day and a proud moment for all of us.”
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.