Rapid enrollment growth suits Enterprise principal just fine
Published 5:00 am Monday, August 22, 2005
While meeting academic challenges is always a priority, growingenrollment represents a challenger in terms of facilities atEnterprise Attendance Center.
Second-year Principal Shannon Eubanks said it is a “veryblessed” problem to have.
“We’re growing and continue to grow,” Eubanks said. “We’re upabout 3 percent from last year.”
Enrollment this year is around 760 students. Enrollment is upabout 80 students over a three-year period.
“We’re having to utilize every building on campus forclassrooms,” he said.
Eubanks came to Enterprise last year as the school opened a newoffice and classroom building. The principal said he expects morebuilding and classroom space will be needed in the near future.
“We’ve got large classes coming up,” Eubanks said.
Enterprise’s enrollment makes it the second-fastest growingschool in the Lincoln County district, behind Loyd Star. Eubankssaid he was proud that parents have confidence in the school.
“It makes you feel good because people want their children to behere and think the world of the school,” Eubanks said.
With the enrollment increase, Eubanks said he thought Enterprisewould be reclassified as a 2-A school but it did not.Classifications are based on high school enrollment.
“We’re a very large 1-A school,” Eubanks said.
Moving up to 2-A status, which Eubanks expects to happen, willpresent new opportunities and challenges for Enterprise. Hementioned facility needs as well as athletic obstacles.
“We’re going to accept the challenges and go from there,”Eubanks said.
Following Billy O. Britt and Bruce Falvey, Eubanks is only thethird principal at Enterprise in the last 30 years.
“It’s a wonderful community to be in,” Eubanks said.
Eubanks, 33, touted a family atmosphere from teachers who careabout their students’ success. He also voiced appreciation for hisadministrative and secretarial support staff.
“To me, I’ve got one of the best staffs in the county,” Eubankssaid.
A Mount Olive native, Eubanks graduated from the MississippiSchool of Math and Science before going to Ole Miss and eventuallygetting his bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University. Hereceived his master’s degree and specialist’s certificate from theUniversity of Southern Mississippi.
Eubanks and his wife, the former Kimmy McGehee, a native ofLincoln County, met while at MSU. They have been married nine yearsand have a daughter, Kelly, who will soon turn 1 year old.
After coming to Lincoln County, Eubanks began at BrookhavenAcademy while Kimmy taught at Loyd Star. After both taught at LoydStar for a while, Shannon Eubanks was named principal atEnterprise, and Kimmy later went to Enterprise to teach English andSpanish.
“When teachers get to Lincoln County, they rarely leave becauseit’s such a good environment,” Eubanks said.
Eubanks expressed appreciation to Superintendent Terry Bristerfor his confidence in him in leading the school.
“No matter what challenges we face, Mr. Brister has been verysupportive of us,” Eubanks said.
Also, Eubanks said community support for Enterprise is”amazing.”
“People love this school and want the best for it,” Eubankssaid.