Beam and Tree Topping Ceremony Marks Milestone for New SCSD School

Storey County School District (SCSD), in partnership with Miles Construction, celebrated a major milestone in the construction of the new Virginia City Combined K-8 School on Thursday, Aug. 20.

The construction team placed one of the final structural beams on the new building, along with a traditional evergreen tree placed atop the beam to recognize the achievement of the contractors, partners, and community members involved in this major project.

"For centuries, builders have celebrated the completion of the structure by placing an evergreen tree with the last beam," explained President of Miles Construction Cary Richardson during the Aug. 20 ceremony. "The tree symbolizes life, strength, renewal, and good fortune while honoring the people whose hard work made the building possible.

"Here in Virginia City, that tradition has special meaning. This is a community built on history, hard work, and the determination of people who came here to build their futures. The buildings around us remind us of those who came before. And today, you're adding another chapter to that story."

The new combined school is designed to serve students from kindergarten through eighth grade, providing a modern learning environment while continuing Virginia City’s longstanding tradition of community-centered education.

SCSD alongside Miles Construction and project partners have made large strides in recent months in order to meet their completion deadline and open doors to students for the 2027-2028 school year. New SCSD Superintendent Dan Sadler recognized the efforts of former superintendents Todd Hess and Joe Girdner who provided the leadership and support needed to make this vision a reality.

"Projects like this don't happen overnight," stated Sadler. "Obviously, they take a lot of years of planning, persistence, and people who are willing to look beyond today and invest in what a community will need tomorrow. This new school represents an investment in our children and the future of Virginia City. When students walk through these doors, beginning next school year, they will enter a modern learning environment that's built to serve generations of students while carrying forward Virginia City's strong traditions of community-centered education."

As attendees watched the beam and evergreen being lifted into place, Richardson's words hung in the air:

"This school is more than steel and concrete. It will be a place where young people learn, grow, make friendships, and begin their futures. As we place this tree at the highest point of the building, we honor the past, celebrate the people who have brought us to this moment, and look forward to the generations of students who will pass through these doors. May the school stand strong. May it serve the community well. And may it carry the spirit of Virginia City into the future."