Killam Elementary School breaks ground after years of planning
(6-minute read)
Town officials, school leaders, state representatives, and current, former, and future Killam families gathered Friday afternoon, September 18, for the official groundbreaking of the new Killam Elementary School. A small crowd marked the milestone, including town, school, and project staff, along with former Killam students who came to see the culmination of years of work. The current building now sits behind a lined fence as construction gets underway.
Years in the making
Reading was one of 17 districts selected from 118 submissions to the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s (MSBA) program, according to Killam School Building Committee Chair Carla Nazzaro. When the project came before voters, 81% supported the new school. Speakers throughout the ceremony described the project as the result of that competitive state process, a strong local vote, and years of sustained work from town and school staff, elected officials, and residents.
Town Manager Jayne Wellman addresses the crowd at the Killam Elementary School groundbreaking. Photo by Taylor Gregory.
Town and School leaders reflect
Town Manager Jayne Wellman welcomed the crowd, saying Killam is more than a building and has “become part of the fabric of the community.” She called the day the culmination of years of advocacy to replace the school and said, “the people of Reading put their trust in us to complete this building, a powerful statement of what the community values.” Wellman described the project as moving “from computer to construction” and said the new building would be sustainable, promote collaboration, and reflect a new era of technology. She thanked residents, abutters, town boards, staff, and the construction team, and closed by thanking Sharon Angstrom, Josh Delaune, Katie Gabriello, and the Department of Public Works.
Superintendent Dr. Henry Turner called it “thrilling” to be part of the groundbreaking, saying the day reflected the commitment and collaboration that brought the project to this point, not just a ceremonial shovel. He recognized Nazzaro for her leadership, thanked the Killam School Building Committee (KSBC) and contractors, and said the new building centers on students and the adults who work with them, calling it an investment in students’ future growth rather than simply a building with classrooms and hallways.
State and MSBA officials
MSBA Treasurer Deb Goldberg addresses attendees at the Killam School groudnbreaking ceremony. Photo by Taylor Gregory.
MSBA Treasurer Deb Goldberg said she has been involved since the beginning of the process and understands the stress communities face applying to the program. She noted that Killam students have struggled with the school’s open classroom concept and said she understood what Reading went through weighing whether to renovate or build new. “Reading, you did it. You came together for the little ones,” Goldberg said, gesturing toward a baby in a stroller in the crowd. She called the groundbreaking the beginning of the process and said she looks forward to the ribbon cutting.
State Rep. Brad Jones recalled the challenge of completing Reading Memorial High School years ago and said the state’s current process for school building projects is far improved. He noted other towns have had building projects fail at the ballot, and credited Reading with listening to and engaging the community throughout. State Rep. Rich Haggerty, appearing alongside Jones as he retires from public service, thanked Goldberg for ensuring communities can pursue projects like this one and thanked taxpayers for their investment.
Boards and Committees reflect
Select Board Chair Melissa Murphy called it an exciting day for Reading and thanked the KSBC for its work, specifically crediting Nazzaro for chairing the committee and keeping the community informed throughout the process, and Select Board member Chris Haley for his work on the project website. She called the project an investment in children and the community that goes well beyond a new building.
KSBC Chair Carla Nazzaro addresses the crowd gathered for the Killam School groundbreaking. Photo by Taylor Gregory.
Nazzaro called it an honor to stand at the groundbreaking for something years in the making. She said the goal has been to build the right-sized school for students while remaining responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, looking for savings wherever possible without compromising the building. The new school, she said, will be among the more energy-efficient buildings in town and will bring the RISE program under one roof. Nazzaro said the project team worked closely with Principal Lindsey Fulton to ensure the design meets students’ needs, and encouraged residents to visit the project website, which was relaunched last week.
School Committee Chair Shawn Brandt said there was little left to add after nearly a decade of discussion and work brought the project to this point, and said Killam staff have been underserved by the current building for years. Finance Committee and KSBC member Ed Ross, a former Killam parent, said he has seen firsthand the tireless efforts of many people to reach this point. He said the project is forecast to come in under budget, calling staying on time and on budget key to responsible stewardship as the district transitions to the new building.
A message from Principal Fulton
Carla Nazzaro (left), Lindsey Fulton (center), and Jayne Wellman (right) pause for a photo at the Killam groundbreaking site. Photo by Taylor Gregory.
Killam Principal Lindsey Fulton, who has led the school for nearly four years and joined during the planning process, said it is clear how deeply Reading cares for its schools and students. She said that while the building is changing, what makes Killam “Killam” is its unchanging foundation of staff, families, and students. For years, she said, students and staff have made do, and the move to a space designed for them will allow more individualized instruction, with service providers located near grade levels and centralizing the RISE program integral to that support.
The program distributed at the ceremony thanked the MSBA, project partners Lavalle Bresinger Architects, Collier Project Leaders, and Brait Construction Managers, and the Killam teachers, staff, and families who supported the project. “This school is being built for you and, most importantly, for the generations of students who will learn, grow, and build lasting memories here,” it read.
Town officials and project partners take part in the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Killam Elementary Schhol. Photo by Taylor Gregory.
Students broke ground in June
The September ceremony followed an earlier, student-focused groundbreaking at Killam on Wednesday afternoon, June 17, before the school year ended. Killam, which serves kindergarten through fourth grade, gathered its classes in the cafeteria and opened with the Killam school song motto.
Fulton explained why they were gathering and told students the back lot would look different once construction began, with a new recess area worth the wait. She previewed the new building’s layout: the lobby, cafeteria, and preschool classrooms on the yellow-themed first floor; first and second grade on the green-themed second floor; and third through fifth grade on the blue-themed third floor.
Students then carried mini shovels outside, waited for the music to signal the start, and each dug a small scoop of dirt across the back field to take part in the milestone.
Learn more
More information and updates on the Killam Elementary School project are available at the Killam School website.
