New Waltham School opens its doors for first day of classes

Early morning showers did not dampen the excitement for teachers and students to start classes Monday in the recently-completed Waltham Elementary School.

The $10 million building is the result of years of planning and many months of construction.

For the past few years, Waltham students and faculty were split between Waltham North several miles from the village in the country and the South school in the heart of Utica.

At the new school's groundbreaking in July 2018, school board members said the consolidation will save the Waltham District money in the long run by requiring maintenance on only one building and will lead to better efficiency with regard to resources and faculty that was not possible with two facilities.

In addition, bus routes are now shorter and parents no longer have to travel between buildings as they did before if they have children attending different grade levels. About 200 children will be attending the new school.

Utica President David Stewart, who has a daughter attending Waltham, previously said, "This new school will now be a tremendous advantage for the village to attract new people and businesses to our area."

Helping to shepherd children out of the rain and into the building, an enthusiastic Superintendent Kristine Eager said: "Waltham School’s new learning environment will now offer our children the ability to be educated in an environment that provides an atmosphere of creativity, innovation and excitement for all."

"Our staff is chomping at the bit to get our children back to school to begin exploring the many endless means of educating them in our flexible spaces and outdoor learning areas."

Brothers Leyton and Spencer Mertes had to stop at the school's door so their mother, Keri Mertes, could capture their first day of school and the first day for the school with her camera.

"I love this school," Keri said. "My sons, especially Spencer starting in kindergarten, were super excited last night."

In her 20th year of teaching — and her first day working at Waltham — first grade teacher Heather Linnig echoed the thrill of starting classes.

"I'm excited about meeting my new kids," said Linnig. "It is a new beginning — a fresh beginning — of a great adventure for us to learn together in this fantastic facility."

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 178 by about 300 feet.

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

"As the superintendent of Waltham, it is an honor to get to embark on this amazing journey with a staff that is truly passionate about shaping the minds of our children to be forward thinkers and innovative learners," Eager said. "We are proud to have a community that supports the education of our kids and believes in Waltham School."