The first new school construction in the Bethlehem School District in 50 years broke ground Tuesday, May 22, at the future site of Eagle Elementary School.
The new school was named by students in a districtwide vote last fall, and dirt from the district’s five other elementary schools was shoveled from separate buckets into the ground of the new Eagle school.
I think this is a place where people can make friends and students can have fun and learn, said Glenmont first-grader Terri Skinkle.
The $7.4 million dollar project is part of the district’s overall $93 million bond that included several classroom additions at the high school and upgrades to all district buildings.
`It’s a continuing project to provide education,` said board member Warren Stoker, who taught for 30 years in Bethlehem schools. Until last week’s groundbreaking, Stoker said, he has never witnessed a new school being built in Bethlehem.
`All I have seen is additions,` said Stoker.
The school is being built to reduce classroom size in the other elementary schools that, until this year, have seen a two-decade-long increase in enrollment.
When completed, Eagle Elementary will add the positions of principal, secretary, school nurse, librarian and custodians. Several teachers from the five existing elementary schools will be redistributed to Eagle when construction is complete by September of 2008.
`We will be gaining space in the other schools and reducing room sharing,` said Superintendent Les Loomis.
Collins-Scoville architects designed the new school and SanoRubin construction will oversee construction. The school will accommodate up to 450 students with 16 new classrooms and an average class size of 22 students per class.
`We plan on having the structure up by the end of the year so we can work inside the building during the winter and spring,` said Rudley Lewis, SanoRubin construction manager.
At the groundbreaking, school board president Stuart Lyman said, `Today is a new beginning.`
`The whole community should really look forward to this day,` said Lyman.
Many town, county and state officials were on hand for the groundbreaking, including Albany County Executive Mike Breslin.
`The fundamental backbone of our community is the school system,` Breslin said. `It’s a magnificent community because of the school system and the kids.`
State Assemblyman Tim Gordon, I-Slingerlands, said this year’s state budget showed `an unprecedented commitment to our local schools.`
Bethlehem’s school budget totaling $77.2 million passed in the May 15 district election. Fifteen new buses were also approved in a school proposition vote with five of the new bus fleet supporting student transportation to and from Eagle Elementary.
`People love this community because of the quality of several things, including our education system,` said Bethlehem town board member Sam Messina.
Town Supervisor Jack Cunningham said Eagle Elementary is an `example of what we are able to offer to the community.`
Glenmont Elementary was the last elementary school to be constructed in Bethlehem in 1957. Hamagrael was built in 1954, Clarksville in 1948 and Slingerlands in 1940. Elsmere is the oldest Bethlehem elementary school, constructed in 1927.“