Groundbreaking marks 'a new beginning' for Braintree's South Middle School

BRANTREE – In an open field behind South Middle School, residents are making a major investment in the town's future.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Wednesday for a new South Middle School, where town and state officials, as well as some grade 6 students at South, dug into a pile of sand with shovels to symbolize the start of the $66.7 million project. It is the first all-new school to be built in the town since Braintree High School opened a half-century ago.

Mayor Charles Kokoros said much of the credit for the project belongs to Braintree residents, who agreed to the town's first-ever temporary tax increase to help pay for it. With education listed as one of his top priorities as mayor, Kokoros said he wants the school buildings to match the high level of learning in the system's classrooms.

"As we look back on this day, we want it remembered as new beginning," the mayor said.

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Jack McCarthy, the executive director of the state School Building Authority, said the project got its start in 2015 when he met with former Mayor Joseph Sullivan and former School Superintendent Frank Hackett at town hall. The meeting led to a plan to expand the town's two middle schools, move grade 5 into the middle school and free up classrooms in the overcrowded elementary schools.

After the ceremony, Sullivan said, "It's been quite a journey."

Braintree's East Middle School was recently renovated and expanded, but the school committee decided to construct an entirely new building for South after finding out it would be cheaper than renovating the existing building.

The state School Building Authority is contributing a total of $71 million to the two middle school projects.

"We at the school building authority are proud to be part of Braintree's tomorrows," McCarthy said.

Nicole Taub, Kokoros' chief of staff and chair of the town's school building committee, said the new South will be "a state-of-the-art facility with countless benefits" for students and faculty.

State Rep. Mark Cusack, D-Braintree, graduated from South in 1999. He said the expanded middle school plan was the best solution for the town.

"This will provide the environment for students, faculty and staff to excel," Cusack said.

State Sen. Walter Timilty, D-Milton, said the new school will be "an A+ facility for an A+ town."

The South Middle School band performed "Look to the Skies" at the ceremony.

The Bacon Construction Co. of East Providence, Rhode Island, is the general contractor. Site work began last month.

The school is scheduled to open at the start of the 2023-24 school year.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Groundbreaking held for new South Middle School in Braintree