By: greenwichfreepress | December 20, 2024
Friday was a big day for the Central Middle School community, with a snowy groundbreaking on the field behind the school where a new building will begin to take shape in coming months.
Several weeks ago the student body enjoyed a day of sports on the field in something of a farewell that culminated in a students versus staff dodge ball tournament.
The new middle school will house up to 660 students in approximately 125,000 gross sq ft in a two-story structure.
Moments before the groundbreaking the students gathered in the auditorium to mark the occasion. Speakers were CMS principal Tom Healy, Greenwich Schools Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones, and BOE member Laura Kostin.
BOE member Jen Behette, building committee vice chair Clare Kilgallen, Selectwoman ex-officio building committee member Lauren Rabin, building committee member Joe Kelly, BET rep to building committee Harry Fisher enjoying remarks from CMS principal Tom Healy. Dec 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Central Middle School principal Tom Healy shared remarks with the students moments before the groundbreaking for the new Central Middle School, Dec 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
CMS building committee members: P&Z commission rep/ex officio Dennis Yeskey, Joe Kelly, Josh Caspi, chair Joe Rossetti, vice chair Clare Kilgallen and BET rep Harry Fisher. Dec 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
CMS principal Tom Healy, flanked by assistant principals Scott Trungadi and Lauren Showstead at the groundbreaking. Dec 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
State Rep Rachel Khanna (D-149), State Rep Steve Meskers (D-150) and State Rep Hector Arzeno (D-151) at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Central Middle School. Dec 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Building committee: vice chair Clare Kilgallen, RTM rep/ex officio Steph Cowie, Selectwoman/ex officio Lauren Rabin, P&Z rep/ex officio Dennis Yeskey, Josh Caspi, Joe Kelly, BET rep Harry Fisher, BOE rep Laura Kostin, secretary Christina Poccia, and Tom Healy at the groundbreaking for the new Central Middle School. Dec 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
State Rep Rachel Khanna, BOE member Jen Behette, BOE member Kathleen Stowe, Greenwich Schools superintendent Dr. Toni Jones, State Rep Hector Arzeno, State Rep Steve Meskers, Greenwich Schools facilities director Dan Watson, CMS assistant principal Lauren Showstead, BOE rep/building committee member Laura Kostin, assistant principal Scott Trungadi and CMS principal Tom Healy. Dec 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
CMS building committee members: ex officio/RTM rep Steph Cowie, ex officio and Selectwoman Lauren Rabin, P&Z representative ex officio Dennis Yeskey, Joe Kelly, Josh Caspi, chair Joe Rossetti, vice chair Clare Kilgallen, BET rep Harry Fisher, BOE rep Laura Kostin and secretary Christina Poccia with CMS Principal Joe Kelly. Dec 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Building committee ex officio member Selectwoman Lauren Rabin, vice chair Clare Kilgallen and ex officio/RTM rep Steph Cowie at the groundbreaking for the new Central Middle School. Dec 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Greenwich Schools superintendent Dr. Toni Jones, BOE rep and building committee member Laura Kostin, building committee vice chair Clare Kilgallen, building committee ex officio member/RTM rep Steph Cowie, BOE member Jen Behette and Selectwoman and building committee ex officio member Lauren Rabin at the groundbreaking for the new Central Middle School. Dec 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Central Middle School principal Tom Healy, a former US History teacher at GHS, shared remarks he modeled after the Gettysburg address:
Three score and seven years ago, our town’s forefathers brought forth upon this land a new school building, conceived in public education and dedicated to the proposition that all students deserve to maximize their potential.
Now we are engaged in a project, testing whether this school community, and most importantly its pick up and drop off procedures can long endure. We have come today to honor all those who have run, jumped, slid, scored, thrown, caught, and cheered on this field as it gives way to a new generation of students and memories.
But, in the larger sense, we come today to celebrate the birth of a new Central Middle School. One that the many bright and talented young women and men who have come before us will not experience, but will be very jealous of. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here including: passing pencils between floors, measuring cracks in the walls, evacuating the building only to have class in cafeterias and auditoriums at other schools, and wonder what was next. It is for the 6th graders and the younger siblings and neighbors still in elementary school to dedicate themselves to the unfinished work of making CMS the number one school in all of Greenwich! And finally, we resolve that a new institution for excellence in learning will be born here and last here passed by the people, for the children, and made of the builders, which shall not perish from the Earth.
To all those who have worked to get this project to this point, we cannot thank you enough for your commitment and dedication to our children and families! To the building committee members who have, and will continue, to dedicate many many volunteer hours to this project, we are eternally grateful. This is a very exciting day for Central and we look forward to 2026 when we hope to use really big scissors to cut a really big, blue and white ribbon.
Greenwich Schools superintendent Dr. Toni Jones shared remarks with the students moments before the groundbreaking for the new Central Middle School. Dec 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Greenwich schools superintendent Dr. Toni Jones said the current 6th graders will have the opportunity to watch the construction from their classroom windows over the next two years.
“Fingers crossed, you will be the first 8th graders in the brand new building,” she added.
“This building will stand for probably 50+ years. All of you will be 65 and 70 years old, and this new building will still be standing,” she said, to chuckles.
“I don’t think anybody realizes how many hours – it’s countless hours – thank you to the building committee,” she said, going on to thank the entire Greenwich delegation, the BOE and the PTA who advocated for the project.
BOE member Laura Kostin, a CMS parent who is also on the building committee, said, “While the old CMS will be your home for a little while longer, you will all become part of a truly remarkable project that will rise up right outside your windows.”
“And to all the students who will someday walk through the doors of the new CMS, we hope that while you are here, you will know that a team of devoted people wanted this building for you – a place where you will grow, study and begin the journey toward whatever you are meant to become.”
After the event in the CMS auditorium, the administration, vendors and contractors, building committee and Greenwich delegation walked around behind the building, the students stayed put to watch the groundbreaking on the big screen.
After the event, State Rep Hector Arzeno (D-149) said in a statement, “We were honored to be at the groundbreaking for the construction of the new Central Middle School today and very pleased for our town’s children and families of the schools, they deserve to have their children in a safe and sound environment and buildings.”
“I am extremely pleased as a member of the current House Delegation, that we were able to secure a higher reimbursement rate from the State and the space waiver which makes more of the square footage eligible for reimbursement.”
“We had been asked many times how we did it. It was the result of the three of us, the House delegation’s hard work, perseverance, commitment and playing by the rules; our work ethic: the discipline we brought to the table, we worked with all the parties directly every step of the way.”
State Rep Khanna said, “We knew that CMS needed to be renovated well before Feb 2022, when it was condemned and temporarily closed due to unsafe conditions. My colleagues, Reps Meskers and Arzeno, and I worked very hard to secure $20 million in funding for this project and I am thrilled to see shovels in the ground.”
“We now have an opportunity to build a school that will address the needs of our town and families for decades to come.”
Reading for the groundbreaking ceremony at Central Middle School. Dec 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Officials moved from the auditorium around the building to the field for a groundbreaking ceremony. Dec 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Back of the current CMS building. Dec 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Rock outcropping and trees at current CMS campus, which will be removed. Dec 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Updated Central Middle School mascot. Dec 20, 2024
First school bus arrives by the bus loop at Central Middle School. Dec 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager