By Allison McDonald

Excitement and joy abounded on Tuesday at the ceremonial groundbreaking for construction of the new elementary school building at the Fort River site.

Attendees at the event heard remarks of gratitude and praise from multiple local and state leaders, including Town Council President Lynn Griesemer, Building Committee Chair and District 1 Town Councilor Cathy Schoen, School Committee Chair Sarah Marshall, Representative Mindy Domb, Senator Jo Comerford, and Mary Pichetti, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the Massachusetts School Building Authority, the state agency that is providing $50.2 million in funding for the building project.

The new school will replace two schools – Wildwood and Fort River Elementary Schools- with one new elementary school on the Fort River site that will serve students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The three-story school will have a capacity of 575 students, with five classrooms per grade.

The building will be Net Zero energy, using ground source heat pumps and photovoltaic panels to supply 100% of the energy for the building. The site will include space for outdoor learning and play, with creative, accessible playground equipment.

The project will also restore community playing fields, provide basketball courts, trails, rain gardens, and more for residents of all ages. The school building is designed to enable after-hours use, including a cafeteria with a stage for performances.

Site work is getting underway and the new building is expected to open in the fall of 2026.