MARBLEHEAD – The town celebrated its new elementary school with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, school chorus performances, and musket volleys on Sunday afternoon.
The ceremony started at 2 p.m. sharp when Glover’s Regiment and 1st Rhode Island Regiment marched to the beating of drums from around the corner of the new Lucretia and Joseph Brown School. They called to order a crowd of more than a couple hundred parents, students, and neighbors.
The presence of the colonial militia was fitting for the occasion, as Joseph Brown was born into slavery as a son of an African-American mother and a Wampanoag Nation father; Brown served in the Revolutionary War to gain his freedom. After the war, Joseph and Lucretia, a Black woman who was born in Marblehead, opened a tavern in town. They lived on Gingerbread Hill from about 1790 until their deaths in 1834 and 1857, respectively.
After a welcoming message from Brown School Principal Sean Satterfield, the audience recited the Pledge of Allegiance led by a third-grade student of the school, Alex Marcus.
The speaking program included many thanks that poured from the stage set up in front of the school ― which officially opened its doors to students last Wednesday, Oct. 13.
David Harris, building committee chair and a School Committee member, said that the project started back in 2015 with a feasibility study that was approved by the town. He thanked the project management company, Leftfield, for working “like they live here.”
Architectural company Raymond Design Associates came up with the vision for the school along with the town and the input from the community, Harris said.
Construction company Gilbane finished the project 40 days before the deadline, orchestrating a myriad of various vendors. Harris said that more than 35 different skilled trades were involved in the project, from glass and metal specialists to landscapers.
“I don’t think there is much we could have done better,” Harris said.
School Committee Chair Sarah Gold praised the school’s amenities which include voice-amplification systems, a stage, a full-size gymnasium, and a big playground. She also said that the dedication of the school to Lucretia and Joseph Brown showed that everyone is welcomed in Marblehead.
Chair of the Board of Selectmen Jackie Belf-Becker expressed gratitude to the building committee of more than 20 people who brought various talents to the table and led an open dialogue through the process.
“We are so fortunate to be able to have seen this project to an end, under budget, and ahead of schedule. We are grateful to the teachers, administrator, and staff for delivering such a high-quality educational experience to our students,” said Belf-Becker. “Imagine what they will achieve now with the school matching the skill level of our teachers.”
Mike Malle, senior project executive at Gilbane, thanked the 19 abutters of the school who embraced the disruptive construction project.
“We had very few issues here,” said Malle.
Resident of Marblehead and State Rep. Lori Ehrlich (D-Marblehead) said that it was a delight to advocate for the funding with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), because she went to the Malcolm L. Bell School, which used to be at this location, and made her first best friend there on the playground.
“Elementary school is more than just a building. Over time, it becomes a place where character develops. It serves as the connective tissue of our community,” said Ehrlich, adding that the community will now be bigger, as Brown School welcomes students from the town’s former L.H. Coffin, Bell, and Gerry schools.
Superintendent of Marblehead Schools John J. Buckey said that the new facilities were a physical and tangible sign of the town’s support for the children and that they will encourage the students to love learning.
“We will be good stewards of this gift from our community,” Buckey said.
The speeches were complemented by a couple of performances from the school’s chorus, which consisted of about 50 second and third graders.
The ceremony ended with the long-awaited red ribbon cutting. Four students of the school simultaneously cut the ribbon with the help from the dignitary speakers, after which Glover’s regiment fired three musket volleys and the crowd was invited inside to take a look at the school.
Inside, the school smelled of fresh construction materials. Built-in glass shelves in the foyer were waiting to be filled with awards and trophies. The art classrooms still looked empty without students’ creations.
On the second floor, the visitors explored colorful classrooms with smart blackboards and walked through a library that was still full of unpacked boxes of books. From the library, one could see into the cafetorium below through the round windows.
Sisters Zeinab (first grade) and Rokaia Osman (third) both go to Brown School. Zeinab said she liked the spacious classrooms the most. Rokaia liked the big gym.
At the exit to the playground from the second floor, every visitor received a cookie from the students ― so-called Joe Froggers that allegedly were invented by Lucretia Thomas Brown at the tavern she and her husband owned.
Alena Kuzub can be reached at [email protected].
