Crowd cheers opening of Utica's new Waltham School building

A new era in education began Wednesday in Utica with the official opening of the recently completed Waltham Elementary School building on Route 178.

"Today marks an important day in the history of Waltham School," said Jim McCabe, Waltham School Board president, to a cheering crowd of teachers, staff, students and citizens. "Today, we bring together what was — at one time — 16 individual one-room school houses to one (new) home."

McCabe said the new building is the result of 10 years of planning, working and dreaming.

"Today, we open the door to a 21st Century learning environment that will allow all of us to educate the students in our community to achieve the greatest goals," he said.

Waltham Elementary School Superintendent Kristi Eager was moved to tears as she recognized the many people involved with the school's construction.

"Housing all our children in one school facility has been a long time in the making, and I am so proud of all the efforts from those who have supported our school district along this journey," she said.

Eager had particular praise for the school's staff and teachers.

"You are the best," she said, pointing to a group of teachers. "I can't wait to see the education you will provide our students in this new learning environment. We have always done amazing things in the education field and now we have a facility that will enhance it."

The school's construction, which started just over a year ago, came after the Waltham School Board closed two school buildings — one in Utica and the other several miles north of the village — at the end of the last school semester.

Eager previously explained the consolidation will save the school district money by requiring maintenance on only one building. She said housing the students in one place will lead to better efficiency in regard to resources and faculty, which wasn't possible with two separate school locations.

Eager said the selection of the new site was made by the district's board following a careful investigation process.

"It was affordable and centrally located between the two (former) buildings," Eager told The Times in January. "There's a lot of positives to it and we see it as sort of a gateway into our community."

The new location will make for shorter bus routes for students and parents will not have to travel between buildings as they did in the past if they had children attending both schools.

The building was erected by Vissering Construction Co., of Streator, on former farmland about 2,300 feet south of U.S. 6 and east of Route 178 by approximately 300 feet.

During the planning stages, the board assured area residents the new facility would be built without raising local taxes. Board members kept their promise. The project was being funded through renegotiation of the Utica's tax increment financing revenue stream.

Among the dozens of people touring the building Wednesday was Wayne English, of Utica, who was in the first graduating class of the north Waltham school after it opened in the winter of 1952.

"This is a beautiful building," English, 81, said while walking the halls of the atrium with his neighbors. "This opening is great for the community, great for the students and great for the school system."

Carol Shaver, who graduated a year after English from the same country school, agreed.

"It's a great day for Waltham," she said.

Utica Village President David Stewart, who will have a daughter attending third grade in the new facility, called the school "awesome."

"It's been a long time coming, and it's very nice to have this building within our village limits," Stewart said. "It is so great to have the two schools now in one place. Just look around at the project's end results. It is just wonderful."

Approximately 250 students, from kindergarten through eighth grade, will begin the school year in the new classrooms Wednesday, Aug. 21.