CORINTH, Maine — As thousands of Maine students across the state slung backpacks over their shoulders Wednesday to head off for a new school year, students in Corinth got a feel for a brand new building and a much larger group of classmates.
Central Community Elementary School welcomed its first crop of pupils on Wednesday, bringing all the district’s K-5 kids — about 550 this year — under one roof.
The new school, the result of a $26 million construction effort, allowed the district to consolidate its five separate school buildings into one. Students from Morison Memorial School, a grades three-five school in Corinth, and K-2 schools in Bradford, Hudson, Kenduskeag and Stetson, as well as the district’s new pre-K program, are all centered at the new school building.
“What a great gift we have here,” said Rhonda Sperrey, superintendent of RSU 64, as she greeted students walking through the door on their first day. “Most of the students attending this new school have not previously had a gymnasium, cafeteria, art or music room, or a library.”
Some elementary schools had to have their lunches delivered from other schools in the district that had kitchens.
In addition to being outdated and short of facilities, most of the district’s elementary school buildings had fallen into disrepair.
Back in 2010, the Maine Department of Education rated school districts based on the need for new facilities. The Corinth school project was at the top of the list, according to Sperrey, and the state approved construction plans in 2012.
“This is an incredible improvement for our students, teachers and staff,” Sperrey said.
The state funded 98 percent of the $26 million project, with the district’s taxpayers footing the rest of the bill — just under $500,000.
“The students are walking in and their faces have all just been in awe,” said Amanda Green, a fifth-grade teacher and literacy coach at the school. “I’m walking down the hallway thinking, ‘Do I really work here?’”
Paul and Heather Rogers of Bradford dropped off three of their four children, Hannah, 10, Nate, 9, and Zac, 7, at the school Wednesday. Their youngest, Sam, 3, likely will be going to class here soon.
Paul Rogers said when his kids attended Bradford Elementary School, they had to take gym class in the foyer. Now, they have a brand new gym.
“I’m blown away, it’s a great building,” Rogers said. “The kids are going to love this place.”
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