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06/08/2018 12:00 AMOn June 7, a dozen brightly colored, student-decorated shovels were used to break ground for the next-generation Walsh Intermediate School (WIS). Members of the school's entire fifth grade class, who will transition into eighth grade over the course of the three-year, two-phase project, were on hand to witness the event.
Joining them in the moment: a crowd of community members, supporters and school and government leaders including many who have helped bring the project to this point. Among them were past Board of Education (BOE) leader Frank Carrano (2005-2015), who served six of his 10 years as chairman; and the school's namesake, Francis "Fran" Walsh. In 1972, Walsh became the first principal of a then-newly constructed Branford Intermediate School, where he served as principal until his retirement in 1994. Walsh went on to serve Branford as an elected member of the Board of Selectmen.
The scene outside WIS on June 7 was punctuated by the presence of heavy equipment that will soon become a familiar site at the school -- a construction backhoe loader. The big yellow backhoe was artfully parked against the familiar brick exterior of WIS, where rows of seating and a tent were also set up for the event. Red and white balloon pillars near the podium helped frame a line of colorful spades under a banner with the message, "Laying the Foundation for a Lifetime of Learning." WIS principal Raeanne Reynolds acted as Master of Ceremonies and noted all students and staff inside the grades 5 – 8 school building were sharing in the excitement by viewing the ceremony via live-stream video in their classrooms.
Walsh told Zip06/The Sound he was delighted to see the project move forward. He also remains humbled by the fact that this school bears his name.
"It is so unbelievable to me. It's daunting," said Walsh. "The only way I can justify it is that I worked with a ton of great people; and to them, this [naming] was important."
Walsh was recognized during the ceremony and later joined the ground-breaking team, after receiving a ceremonial shovel distributed by Construction Manager Lynn Fusco of Fusco Construction; with assistance from Branford High School (BHS) senior and project intern Bridget Wirtz. Wirtz will pursue an engineering degree at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the fall.
The $88.2 million WIS alteration/extension project, bonded by the town, will receive a $30 million state reimbursement. The existing academic areas of WIS will not be impacted by the project next year and will continue to be used by students. Phase One of the project's construction will begin as soon as school ends in June. Work this summer will involve demolition of a portion of the front/eastern side section of WIS in order to connect a new, three story academic addition to the east side of the existing building.
As many who spoke noted on June 7, this project has been at the forefront in recent years as it's moved from public input/discussion to concept/design, final funding approval and now, the beginning of construction. But requests, ideas and even studies on how to best the upgrade 46-year-old WIS building have been making the rounds in town and school meetings for well over a decade.
Current BOE chairman and long-serving BOE member Michael Krause told Zip06/The Sound that finally getting to groundbreaking was "amazing."
"It's something I've wanted since the early 2000's; and it's something that's been a community effort and a town-wide effort," said Krause.
First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove also recognized the time that's gone into laying the groundwork to bring this project to fruition.
"There have been dozens, if not hundreds, of people who worked over the years to see this project move forward. Teachers, parents, students, former students; town officials, Board of Education officials and elected officials," said Cosgrove, speaking from the podium on June 7. "I just want to thank all of you -- this is something we can all be proud of."
Cosgrove recognized the current Branford leaders working on the project with Public Building Commission, as well as those involved in the project team from the outside firms of Antinozzi Associates, Colliers International and Fusco Construction.
"Putting this team together has been a process," said Cosgrove. "We did our diligence in ensuring we put a solid team together. We have confidence that we're not only able to start this project, but to deliver this project. This will be a project that the community and the school is proud of."
Cosgrove also thanked the PBC and its WIS Project Committee for their work, asking for a round of applause for their "multi-year commitment" to the task.
PBC chairman Peter Banca echoed Cosgrove's thanks to those who have worked tirelessly to get the project to this stage. Banca said he was also grateful for "...all of the support that we have gotten over this past two- or three-year period."
"We're looking forward to a ribbon cutting ceremony in three years, and I think that will be an even greater event," said Banca.
Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez offered his deepest and sincerest thanks to all who have participated in the project, noting it's been on the radar since he first joined the district in 2010.
"Think about where we have come from as a community," said Hernandez, thanking Cosgrove, the BOE, the Representative Town Meeting, the Board of Finance and Branford Finance Director James Finch, among others, including, "...all of the volunteers who have led this project."
Gesturing to the large crowd of fifth-graders attending the ceremony, Hernandez said, "You only have to look [at them] and know that they deserve to have a quality school. They already have outstanding teachers, they already have committed parents, they already have a community that is supportive of education. And now, we will add this final touch, which is a 21st century next-generation intermediate school. For that, we should be incredibly proud [because] not many communities can rally together and get behind a project like this, and have the vision."
Hernandez also imparted a bit of a lesson, noting "...as I always tell my staff, it is not about who gets the credit. It's always about who gets the benefit. And to me, that is incredibly important. That is a quote that my father would always say to me; someone who was very near and dear and in my heart today, because he believed in public institutions."
Hernandez also explained to the students that the project will take time and some questions will likely arise as it goes along.
"Be patient. Know that probably, when you go home next year, every day at the dinner table, you'll be asked, 'Was there noise? Did you see any dust? Were there animals running around; were there strangers?' Know that the security of the project is foremost in our minds. And yes; there'll be some disruptions; but in the end, it is worth it. Anything worthwhile is usually difficult. This is no different," Hernandez said. "So thank you, and I look forward to it."
The groundbreaking crew included Hernandez, Walsh, Reynolds, Cosgrove, Krause, Banca, State Representatives Lonnie Reed (D, District 102) and Sean Scanlon (D, District 98), Fusco, Michael LoSasso (Antinozzi Associates), Scott Pellman (Colliers Internationa) and Fusco Construction's Greg Plasil and Chris Toussaint.
Following that group, Reynolds called up the twelve student artists whose shovel designs were selected from a contest held at the school (students painted their shovels working with teacher Lesley French-Hinds). The group was delighted to take up their shovels and take a crack at helping break ground for the project. Reynolds also thanked the members of WIS Cantare, who performed "God Bless America" under the instruction of Theresa Madrid; and eighth grader Ava Cosgrove, daughter of the First Selectman, who sang the national anthem at the start of the ceremony.