NHS Expansion Breaks Ground

By Eliza Hallabeck

A crowd gathered on the slightly misty morning of Thursday, May 28, in the back parking lot of Newtown High School to witness the start of a project many have worked toward.

“All the different people at all the different stages have come together to put one huge project together,” said Newtown High School Principal Charles Dumais. 

After Mr Dumais, Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson, First Selectman Joe Borst, and Board of Education Chair Elaine McClure spoke, shovels were handed out and stuck in the ground, marking the start of the Newtown High School expansion and renovation project.

“This has been going on for years,” said Mr Dumais to the crowd. “Some of you are here because you were here at the beginning. Some of you are here because you were here in the middle. And some of you are here because, hopefully, you will see this to the end.”

The ceremony, he said, was starting a process that will provide an excellent and appropriate environment for the students of Newtown. Some of the students, he said, who are attending the school now will see the completed project in January 2011.

“The students that come up behind them will have a facility here that will support their education,” said Mr Dumais.

Dr Robinson said the groundbreaking was a wonderful and joyful occasion.

“People have put endless hours of work in bringing people together, informing people,” said Dr Robinson to the crowd. “From the students giving their voice in film, which was magnificent, to PTAs, to the community members, to people with vision coming together to make this happen for Newtown.”

The expansion project, she said, is an example of the emphasis Newtown places on education.

“Whatever role you had in this, I hope that every time you pass this high school, every time you visit this high school for the rest of your life,” said Dr Robinson, “you will feel the pride that you made something very important happen for the children of Newtown.”

The night before the ceremony, First Selectman Joe Borst said he went through old files on the NHS expansion and renovation project, and he found on September 25, 2003, district Business Director Ron Bienkowski wrote a memo to the district regarding an establishment of an academy.

In January 2004, then-Superintendent of Schools Evan Pitkoff created the Newtown High School Space Needs Committee.

“Now we’re five years later,” said Mr Borst. “So today is a very triumphant day.”

“What a townwide effort to get this done,” said Board of Education Chair Elaine McClure.

All of the speakers for the ceremony thanked everyone who had been involved with creating the NHS expansion project.

Mr Dumais, Mr Borst, Dr Robinson, Ms McClure, Joe Costa, with the architectural firm Fletcher Thompson, Vice President of Operations for the Morganti Group Tim Gunn, and Arthur Lindley, with the Morganti Group, lined up to shovel dirt and mark the start of the project.

After the ceremonial groundbreaking, food was served for the visitors by NHS Culinary students.