Students and faculty at the Linda Nolen Learning Center will have a fresh start when school starts back, as the center recently moved from its old location off Alabama 119 in Alabaster to its new location off Shelby County 35 in Pelham.

After years in the 119 facility, the school was moved to the old Bradford Health Services building in Pelham to make way for the new Thompson Intermediate School sixth-grade center.

LNLC Principal Michele Shepherd said the move to the new location was tough because so many teachers, students and parents had become accustomed to the old location.

However, she said the move has been well worth it.

“When everyone saw that we were going to get a new school … they understood,” Shepherd said. “It’s just going to take a while to get adjusted.”

Shepherd said one advantage to the new building versus the old one is size.

“I feel like we had outgrown the old building,” Shepherd said. “We can grow here.”

Although Shepherd said she, the facility and the kids are going to miss the people of Alabaster, she looks forward to the school being a great member of the Pelham community.

“We had gotten to know a lot of people in the Alabaster area and we are really going to miss them,” Shepherd said. “But so far, we’ve been well-received by those we’ve met in Pelham.”

Among those she’s already met have been members of the Pelham Fire Department and Police Department.

Shepherd said several members of each force have already been by the school to reassure her they are there if she ever needs them.

And while she’s excited about the new building and excited about the new year, Shepherd is most looking forward to seeing the kids embrace the new Linda Nolen Learning Center.

“Just for the kids to be in something new makes it all worth it,” Shepherd said.