Community leaders officially break ground on new GMS

GMS students help mark the groundbreaking ceremony with state and local leaders, including State Treasurer Deb Goldberg, Rep. Bill Galvin and Senator Paul Feeney. (Mike Tureski photo)

With bulldozers and active construction equipment working in the background, a group of 70-80 people, including town officials, residents, school staff, GMS students, and Massachusetts State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg came together at Duggan Field on a hot and humid Thursday morning to officially break ground on the new Galvin Middle School.

Although actual construction began in late June, School Superintendent Derek Folan said he chose to wait until September so that he could involve students in the ceremony. The groundbreaking also drew Canton Public School educators and administrators, CPS central office staff, and members of the School Committee and GMS Building Committee.

The new Galvin Middle School is expected to cost $241 million, a third of which will be paid by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). Goldberg, who chairs the MSBA, said the best part of her job is to see the progress of projects like these which benefit children. “We don’t look at these projects as construction projects with steel and bricks and mortar,” Goldberg said. “The mission of the MSBA, and my entire office, is to create opportunities, and where better to do that than in the schools? For so many kids, their best path to success is through the public schools in Massachusetts, and I feel very strongly that we need to give them the kind of classrooms and the kind of learning opportunities that they deserve in order to set them on a path to have a successful future.”

Folan, in his speech, thanked the Canton community for its support and said the project is a testament to thoughtful planning, strong relationships, and hard work. “We have always viewed the new Galvin Middle School project as more than just a state-of-the-art educational facility; it is a community landmark that showcases the town’s love of its children, families and educators and its investment in excellence and innovation for the generations ahead. We thank the residents of Canton for supporting this building project and embracing this opportunity with overwhelming enthusiasm.”

Folan offered his heartfelt thanks to every town board that reviewed the project, and he praised the work of Building Commissioner Ed Walsh and members of the Fire and Police departments, who visited almost every day in the summer to ensure the site was safe. He also expressed his immense gratitude to the entire building and design team, including LeftField (project manager), Ai3 Architects and Consigli Construction, while also thanking the MSBA for their funding commitment and overall guidance and support. “The MSBA partnership is breathing life and energy into our town and school system, and I’m not sure you hear this enough — we are so grateful and appreciative.”

Anne Galvin, the 85-year-old daughter of the school’s namesake — former Superintendent of Schools William H. Galvin — was unable to attend the groundbreaking, but Folan said he will be visiting her and bringing one of the commemorative shovels as a memento.

State Rep. Bill Galvin, who is the great-nephew of William H. Galvin, also spoke at last week’s ceremony and presented Folan with an official state citation from the Mass. House of Representatives. “It was my great uncle who inspired me to a life of public service,” said Rep. Galvin. “This new school represents this community’s commitment to its children and their future.”

GMS Principal Jonathan Mulhern pointed out the many improvements that the new school will bring to middle school education when it opens in 2028. “This building will create a truly vibrant learning environment,” said Mulhern. “It features collaborative learning hubs, state-of-the-art specialist areas, inquiry-driven environments where students learn by doing, and we will lead by example in environmental stewardship. Over 20 geothermal wells will efficiently heat and cool the building.”

School Committee Chair Kim McCourt, in her remarks, held up a keychain her daughter had made her for Mother’s Day. On it, she thanks McCourt for being a great mom and for her work on behalf of Canton schools, saying, “Thank you for the new middle school.”

Also in attendance at the September 17 event were Select Board Chair Susan Harrington and fellow members Trish Boyden and JR McCourt, Canton’s police and fire chiefs, other municipal department heads and committee chairs, Norfolk County Commissioner Richard Staiti, and MSBA CEO Jim MacDonald.

Kristen Merenda, a member of the School Committee since 2019, told the Citizen that the new building is a “dream come true” and will greatly benefit the entire CPS community, not only by opening up more space at the elementary schools, but also by creating new recreational and performance opportunities with the new sports and theater facilities, and generating cost savings for the district with the installation of geothermal wells. “This will be a magnet for students to stay in the district and move into the district,” said Merenda.

John Connolly, former School Committee member and Select Board Chair who recently served on the GMS Building Committee, recalled he was a student at GMS when it opened in 1973. While that building was considered state-of-the-art for its time, Connolly said the new GMS is in the best interests of the Canton community. “We are doing it for the kids,” he said.

With the recent completion of the loop road and geothermal wells, Addison Nye of Consigli Construction said last week that the focus now will shift to setting up concrete foundations and steel installation for the gymnasium, auditorium, school wings, and the new school’s elevator pad.

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=134791