Quincy’s new Central Middle School opens

Students gathered outside the 119-year-old Central Middle School on Monday, Oct. 21 to say goodbye to their old school, taking down the sign that has adorned the building for decades. Up the street, they would be greeted by a new $32 million Middle School only recently completed. The building opening was delayed a month due to ongoing construction.

Central’s marching band played a tune as students and staff walked up the road to the new school.

Students and faculty talked in murmurs as they made their way up the street, accompanied by camera crews and watched by neighbors and parents.

The new school, situated on Hancock Street, stands handsomely across from Veteran’s Memorial Stadium. A first floor administrative offices and second floor library in the rotunda stands watch over the avenue.

Over 600 students will attend the new school, that in addition to new technology and new furniture will feature well-lit classrooms, gathering areas, and meeting space. “Just the light that comes in. it really sounds so low tech, but the students to be in the classroom with natural light filtering in, you can’t say enough about that,’’ said School Committee Vice Chair Barbara Isola.

One student threw up his hands at seeing the new school. “The beauty of the place, I think people rise to the occasion, they behave differently. It shows the reverence we have for education, so its all good,’’ Isola said.

“People are thrilled, it’s a very exciting day,’’ said Mayor Thomas Koch. In addition to the walk to the school, school officials hosted an open house the Sunday before for parents and students.

Despite the Sunday sneak peak, many students still hadn’t seen the building before its Monday opening, and took photos of the new structure with phones.

School administrators, students, and Mayor Thomas Koch helped lift off the cover for the new middle school sign.

City and school administrators, including many members of the School Committee, lined up at the doors to welcome students to the new building.

“This is amazing,’’ said one student. “It looks like the Plaza!’’ exclaimed another. One young boy said the building was “so word,’’ another commented that it smelled so new.

Students looked up at the vaulted ceilings when entering the building, coming in by grade and accompanied by teachers.

“It’s tremendous,’’ said School Committee member David McCarthy. “It’s just impressive, and it has a lot of old flavor.’’

An employee high-fived school committee member Paul Bregoli.

Mayor Thomas Koch stands by the new building. “It’s been talked about for a long time…people were really excited,’’ he said.

Superintendent Dr. Richard DeCristofaro said holding off on the opening was the right move. “Working over the weekend, you saw so many of the little things that mean so much ready for these kids. We did the right thing, we’re waiting for that auditorium to be done, and we’ll have a great middle school,’’ he said.

(From left) School Committee members David McCarthy, Anne Mahoney, Paul Bregoli, Emily Lebo, Superintendent DeCristofaro, Mayor Koch, Barbara Isola, Kathryn Hubley, and Jack McCarthy Executive Director, Mass School Building Authority stand in front of the new building.

The only remaining project in the school is the auditorium, DeCristofaro said. “We’re working with the construction company and project managers, all the work will be done from 3:30 p.m. on,’’ he said. “It means slowing the work down a bit, but it will be worth it for safety of the kids and staff.’’ Most likely construction in the auditorium will be ongoing for three to four more weeks.

The old building will be sold, city officials said. In addition to planning the sale, school officials have also set their eyes on Sterling Middle School as the next project to tackle. “I look forward to working with the mayor and the Massachusetts School Building Authority,’’ DeCristofaro said. “We have all our statement of interest forms in, and we’re waiting from the MSBA for an invitation [to join their reimbursement program].’’