Symbolic Milestone Reached For Central Middle School Construction Project In Greenwich

GREENWICH, CT — The Central Middle School project reached an important and symbolic milestone on Thursday, as a steel beam bearing signatures from students, staff and volunteers was hoisted up and put into place to signify the completion of the structural phase of the new school facility.

Members of the community, adorned with hard hats and reflective construction vests, gathered at the new CMS site for a "topping off" ceremony on Thursday afternoon.

The original CMS was built in 1958 and closed for a brief period in 2022 after an inspection found structural concerns. Students were sent to other schools as the school district worked to fortify the building.

A new 125,000 gross square-foot building is now being constructed just north of the current school, with a new extended driveway, a separate bus loop and new parking areas. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in December 2024.

The existing school will continue to function until the new structure is complete and receives a final certificate of occupancy.

Once abatement and demolition of the existing school building is complete, the athletic fields will be moved to the previous building location.

If all goes according to plan, the new $112 million CMS could open before the start of the 2026-2027 school year. Officials on Thursday said the project remains on schedule.

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CMS Principal Tom Healy spoke briefly on Thursday, and thanked the "countless people" who have been involved with the project, from building committee members, to the Turner Construction team, Board of Education and other town bodies, as well as the town's delegation to Hartford.

"I also want to thank our families who are putting up with a little bit of confusion and construction over the last year and a half," Healy said. "Everyone is super excited about this, and really it's a big, important school-wide, community-wide event, and something we couldn't be prouder of."

Laura Kostin, who serves as the Board of Education's representative on the CMS Building Committee, also spoke briefly before the steel beam was put in place Thursday.

"This occasion is proof of what is possible when a group of people raise their hands in a community's time of need. We all came together years ago barely knowing one another, with a how-can-I-help attitude and a common goal to build this for the kids," Kostin said. "Today, with a school rising up where there was none, I am just in awe of what this amazing group of volunteers has been able to accomplish. It is the biggest capital project ever in the town of Greenwich, and I am proud to say we are getting it done."

Superintendent of Greenwich Public Schools Dr. Toni Jones thanked the Turner Construction team for making sure the construction site is safe for students to return to class in just a couple weeks.

"Our parents, our school community, all feel safe and ready to start school, having kids right over there in a few weeks, and that's because of all the preparation you've done and the communication," Jones said. "Let's move forward getting that beam put up there where it's supposed to go."

CMS Building Committee Chair Joe Rossetti thanked the surrounding neighbors for living through construction over the last eight months, and he looked forward to the next year.

"What's so great about this, is it's not just the building that's cool, it's just the success of a team right here," Rossetti said. "That's what's really cool about it. It's people coming together and doing something great."

After Rossetti's comments, the steel beam was raised and secured into place as the crowd watched and cheered.