A dedication ceremony was held Friday for West Hartford’s first new elementary school building in more than 50 years.

By Ronni Newton

Charter Oak International Academy students and staff began the 2016-17 academic year in August in a new home– one that is now a proper extension of the school community’s already present vision for helping create and sustain a peaceful, interconnected world, Principal Juan Melián told those who gathered for the building’s dedication on Friday.

Just before West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor and several Charter Oak International Academy students cut a bright red ribbon to officially dedicate the new school building Friday morning, second grade teacher Kirk Williams led a group of students and teachers, and then the entire audience, in singing Phillip Phillps’ hit song “Home.”

In the many different languages that are represented by the Charter Oak International Academy community, students both welcomed and thanked those who made the new school a reality. Town administrators and members of the Town Council and Board of Education were in the audience, as were State Sen. Beth Bye, State Rep. Andrew Fleischmann, former Superintendent of Schools Karen List, several former Board of Education members, and representatives of Perkins Eastman Architects, Fusco Corporation, and Construction Solutions Group.

Because of single-digit temperatures, the dedication was held inside Charter Oak’s sunlit auditorium with the etched oak tree on the glass wall looking out into the courtyard serving as the backdrop.

The new $45 million building, constructed in a circle to recognize the equal status of all in the community, is state-of-the-art and in the process of receiving its official LEED Gold certification.

“There are so many things that are great about this, including that it was done on time and under budget,” Superintendent of Schools Tom Moore said. Construction commenced in March 2015, and although some work on the grounds had not been completed, the building was ready as planned for the first day of school on Aug. 31, 2016.

Moore presented Melián with the school’s official new sign. He said it would be impossible to thank all who contributed to making the new building a reality, but highlighted the architect and builder, Plant Services Director Bob Palmer, Town Manager Ron Van Winkle, Director of Finance and Planning Chip Ward, elected officials, and current and former Board of Education members, as well as former Superintendent List “who had a vision of what an elementary school should be.”

“You deserve this day,” Fleischmann, who is a Charter Oak parent, told the school community. But although the building is new, the school’s values haven’t changed. “All that’s changed is this – your fantastic school community now has the right building,” he said.

Bye said that the new building is a symbol of West Hartford’s, and the state’s, commitment to education. The state paid approximately $32 million of the the $45 million construction project. “We want to spend because we know education matters.”

Charter Oak is “an amazing place,” Bye said. With the inclusion of the preschool and the Family Resource Center – where she recently got to hold a new baby – the school’s commitment to its community begins as soon as children are born.

“We are community!” Bye said, leading the audience in repeating the mantra.

“Lots of time was spent to make this building really special,” Cantor said, with more than 40 community meetings held over the course of the process.

Construction of the new Charter Oak building was approved in Feburary 2013, but West Hartford’s commitment to education goes way back, she said, telling a story about the dedication of a new school in 1877 where an official declared he would “cheerfully” pay his taxes to support a new school building.

“I know this place will be filled with the joy of learning … I wish, and I know it will be, filled with respect and peace,” Cantor said.

“This is a model for our whole town,” Board of Education Chair Mark Overmyer-Velazquez said. Building the new school has “deepened our commitment to collaborative and collective learning.”

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West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor, assisted by several students, cuts the ribbon at the Charter Oak International Academy dedication. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Superintendent of Schools Tom Moore (right) presents Charter Oak International Academy Principal Juan Melián with a new school sign. PHoto credit: Ronni Newton

Community leaders at the Charter Oak International Academy dedication included (from left) Tracey Wilson, Beth Bye, Ben Wenograd, Mark Overmyer-Velazquez, Karen List, Tammy Exum, Dave Pauluk, and Cheryl Greenberg. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Town and school administrators stand in the back of the Charter Oak International Academy auditorium where the community gathered for the dedication. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

State Rep. Andy Fleischmann. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

State Sen. Beth Bye speaks to the audience as Principal Juan Melián and Superintendent Tom Moore stand to the side. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Mayor Shari Cantor. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Students say “Thank You” in many of the languages represented by the Charter Oak International Academy community. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Principal Juan Melián listens as a student says, “Danke,” the German word for “Thank you.” Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Charter Oak’s new sign. Photo credit: Ronni Newton