Town and state leaders gathered with the Charter Oak International Academy community Thursday morning for a ceremonial groundbreaking at the site of the new school, West Hartford’s first new elementary school building in decades.

By Ronni Newton and Katie Cavanaugh

Although construction has already been ongoing for several months, state and local officials waited for spring weather for the official groundbreaking for Charter Oak International Academy – the first new elementary school building to be constructed in West Hartford in 50 years.

Superintendent of Schools Tom Moore acted as emcee for the celebration on a picture-perfect day. The event was attended by Mayor Scott Slifka, most members of the Town Council and Board of Education, State Sen. Beth Bye, State Rep. Andy Fleischmann, State Rep. Joe Verrengia, State Rep. Brian Becker, many town and education department leaders, and architects from Perkins Eastman. Moore expressed thanks to all involved – including Bye and Fleischmann whose pivotal roles in passing legislation to allow the project to receive reimbursement for 80 percent of qualified costs as a “diversity school” made the project possible.

Charter Oak International Academy students, teachers, staff, and many parents were also on hand for the celebration, which was highlighted by student presentations and a ceremonial groundbreaking.

Student Council Co-president Nyssa Park told the audience, “Taking action is great because it can help us to learn and impact the learning of others … West Hartford saw an opportunity to make our school even better and they took action.”

Some of the students injected a little bit of witty humor into their statements. One boy told town leaders that he was thankful that the architects and planners listened to what they wanted in the school, but wondered what happened to plans for the indoor swimming pool where they could take swim lessons.

Another student said she is happy about new water fountains, but wondered why there wouldn’t be chocolate fountains as students had requested. Or soft serve ice cream machines in the cafeteria. Another said, “You forgot the indoor playground for when it rains.”

Students created placards with key words that apply to Charter Oak’s International Baccaulareate approach to learning as well as the approach officials have taken for this project. The words included “Listen,” “Innovate,” “Patience,” “Celebrate,” and “Thrive.” When the students all turned the cards around at once, together they spelled “The New Charter Oak School.”

Bye spoke to the audience, specifically telling the students that “schools are magical places where everyone comes together.”

“Today is indeed a magical day for West Hartford, and we are celebrating that magical day, and celebrating our investment in West Hartford, Connecticut, and the nation,” Bye said.

“This might be the most exciting thing I’ve done, and the most lasting,” Slifka said. “I would like history to note that this is a project that passed unanimously,” he said, jokingly adding that he was in favor of the swimming pool and chocolate fountains, but others vetoed them.

Acknowledging that the construction actually began several months ago, Slifka said, ” This is more of a party kind of groundbreaking. We want to celebrate it.”

Board of Education Chairman Mark Overmyer-Velazquez addressed the audience in both Spanish and English, speaking about how Charter Oak is already a “choice destination that helps children and families come and be together in a world that they will improve.” The new Charter Oak – which officials hope will attract more magnet students from throughout town – will do all of that and more as it helps “more children understand and connect with their world,” Overmyer-Velazquez said.

Bye said following the ceremony that she is thrilled to see a goal that she has been working toward since 2001 – trying to find a way to bring racial balance to West Hartford’s schools – finally coming to fruition.

Thanks to Sheff vs. O’Neill, there have been resources available, but that hasn’t applied to West Hartford. “A lot of our policies targeted the poor cities, and that’s appropriate, but the surrounding ring suburbs need help, too.”

“Our town does such a good job making due. We wring every last bit of use out a facility, but a new school is what we need now,” Bye said.

Fleischmann said following the ceremony that as chair of the legislature’s education committee for the past 11 years, he has been involved in the construction of many great schools. “This is by far the most exciting school of my career, and the most exciting day of my career,” he said.

Charter Oak is already a great school, Fleischmann said. “Today we are on the path to getting an amazing building that matches the excellence of the school … when you create a world-class facility, you remind people,” he said.

Construction project costs for the state-of-the-art school, which is expected to be complete by the fall of 2016, are estimated at $45 million.

The building design is circular, with an enclosed courtyard that forms the heart of the school and connects to the auditorium allowing for indoor and outdoor seating. It will have the latest in accessible media and technology, including a recording studio, and will include geothermal heating and cooling as well as other eco-friendly design elements. Details about the new building are available on the West Hartford Public Schools website.

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