Mayor Joe Curtatone, Paul Bockelmann, laborers and students celebrated ESCS’ “Topping Off” ceremony last Friday. – Photo by Francisco L. White

By Francisco L. White

A ceremony known as Topping Off was held at the construction site for the new East Somerville Community School on Friday, May 25. According to a banner that hung proudly from the building, topping off is an ironworkers tradition. The ceremony, which involves signing and placing the final beam on top of the structure, attracted several elected officials from the city and state levels, including Rep. Denise Provost.

Opening remarks were made by Paul Bockelmann, chairman of the school committee, who described the event as, “the topping off of an important school, for an important neighborhood.” He said the ceremony is “a significant milestone.” The rebuilding effort has been a collaborative endeavor of Gilbane, PMA Consultants, Roman Iron, the Maguire Group, and Mayor Curtatone’s administration among others.

Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi acknowledged the mayor’s leadership, saying, “From the very beginning, proud Somerville Public Schools alumnus Mayor Curtatone has led and championed the efforts in rebuilding this cornerstone of our community. He also said, “This ceremony represents the incredible power of teamwork.”

Mayor Curtatone added, “It’s amazing how quickly the community unites in the face of adversity.” He also expressed his gratitude to the many laborers, saying, “To all the workers who are here, thank you for the work you do, here on the ground, everyday.”

Jack McCarthy, executive director of the Massachusetts School Building Authority, also recognized the efforts of elected officials at various levels saying, “Your delegation were the big advocates of this project.” He went on to admit that the project is special to him, saying, “My mother was born and raised in Somerville.” The MSBA assisted the city in allocating $15.2 million in funding for the reconstruction.

Paul Bockelmann referred to Gilbane, Maguire, and PMA as “the A-team of experts.” PMA Consultants is a leading international construction consulting firm, based in Michigan. The firm has twelve offices, one of which is located in Brookline, and currently employs approximately 200 people.

The East Somerville Community School, which was the city’s second largest building, was destroyed by a three-alarm fire, in late 2007. At the time, approximately 600 students attended the institution. After the fire, students were carefully distributed throughout the school system. Dr. Holly Hatch, who has served the community as principal of ESCS for seven years, was in attendance, along with several third and fourth grade student council representatives, who will continue their primary education in the new building when it opens its doors in September 2013.

Hatch said, “I’m a strong believer that in crisis comes opportunity and that modeling is a great way to teach students. In this way, students have learned that a school is not just a building.” She added, “One of the really special things about ESCS is that it is a community.” The school mascot is, most appropriately, a phoenix. Hatch said, “We believe that, like the phoenix, we will rise again. We did rise again.”