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As the new $160 million Dr. Albert B. Consentino School reached its top height Wednesday, a sixth grader gave the most personal account of why the new building is needed.
At a “Topping Off” ceremony at the Washington Street school, Consentino Principal Richard Poor introduced Graeme Gillogly as a future eighth grader when the building opens. Gillogly said he is the third in his family to attend the school and he and his siblings have seen plenty.
“My brother was here when the roof was leaking and the PTO gave all of the teachers umbrellas for Teacher Appreciation Week. As you can imagine, it makes it harder to learn when the students and teachers have obstacles like these in the past. All students deserve schools that they feel comfortable learning in and a space that teachers feel comfortable teaching in,” he explained.
Mayor Melinda E. Barrett, who is also chairman of the School Committee, said the school is on target to open to more than a thousand fifth through eighth grade students during the fall of 2026, if not sooner. She acknowledged the school as one of the most expensive in the city’s history.
“Building a school is clearly not cheap, but it is an investment that will pay dividends for our community. Our children deserve a school where they can learn, play and ultimately grow to be engaged citizens that contribute positively to our community and our greater society,” she said.
At her invitation, students and others signed their names to a steel beam that was lifted into place at the highest level of the building. Barrett asked everyone to think about what the school means to each of them as they signed their names. She said, for her, the school represents “a brighter tomorrow for the City of Haverhill.”
The ceremony took places a year to the day since ground was broken for the new school. As he did then, Massachusetts School Building Authority Director of Administration and Operations Matt Donovan addressed those gathered, saying such building projects “take a village” to advance to completion. State Rep. Andy X. Vargas singled some of those village members, from those who campaigned for voter approval to the very students that will attend.
“This project, this building, is an example that you can make a difference. It’s only happening because enough people cared and enough people showed up and enough people were willing to do the work and I know that you guys are going to do the same for generations after you.”
The state representative noted the “strength of a society is best measured when you look at the quality of their education system.”
Superintendent Margaret Marotta noted other milestones such as the upcoming opening of modular classrooms at the John Greenleaf Whittier School, while School Committee Vice Chairman Paul A. Magliocchetti touted his roots as a former Consentino Charger, He said he hopes students witnessing the construction project up close will become inspired to become needed tradespeople themselves.
Officials gathered at the construction site of the new Dr. Albert B. Consentino School. They included School Committee members Erica Diaz and Thomas Grannemann, City Councilors Shaun P. Toohey and Ralph T. Basiliere, state Rep. Andy X. Vargas, School Committee Vice Chairman Paul A. Magliocchetti, Mayor Melinda E. Barrett, School Committee member Richard J. Rosa, school Superintendent Margaret Marotta and City Councilor Melissa J. Lewandowski. (WHAV News photograph.)
Steel beam, with hundreds of student and guest signatures, is lifted into place. (WHAV News photograph.)