Children Break Ground on New Preschool Facility

COURT HOUSE – This past March, Middle Township voters approved a referendum granting $24.5 million for a new preschool facility that will be erected off of the eastern side of Middle Township Elementary School No. 1.
At 9:30 a.m. Nov. 17, members of the school system, township officials and the current crop of preschoolers conducted a short groundbreaking ceremony before a gathering of well-wishers to commence the project that will begin sometime early next month.
In attendance were Middle Township School Superintendent Dr. David Salvo, Middle Township Elementary School No. 1 Principal Christian Paskalides, Board of Education President Dennis Roberts, Vice President George DeLollis, Middle Township School Business Administrator Diane Fox, recently re-elected Middle Township Mayor Michael Clark, and the staff and students of preschool classes belonging to Mrs. Bosacco, Mrs. Capocci, Mrs. D’Antonio, Mrs. Engiles, Mrs. Hess, and Mrs. Richardson.
Among other guests of honor were Patrick Gallagher, an engineer with Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc. out of Trenton and Robert Wilkinson, owner and president of R. Wilkinson & Sons Construction, Inc. out of Absecon, both of whom will play a key role in the construction of the new facility.
Unable to attend was Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-1st) who had a scheduling conflict due to another groundbreaking ceremony.
Prior to the beginning of the event, Clark told the Herald, “I’m excited. It’s going to be great for the community.” The mayor would later say in his prepared comments that the new building was a welcomed upgrade and a wonderful amenity for Middle Township.
Salvo opened the celebration and stated he would like to thank the numerous community organizations that made the fifteen-year dream become a reality. Those mentioned were Middle Township Board members, county freeholders, numerous township officials, employees of Cooper Levenson Attorneys at Law, Middle Township Fire Department, Recreation Department, Middle Township PTO, Concerned Citizens of Whitesboro, Rotary Club of Mid Jersey Cape, Cape May AARP, Christ Gospel Love Center Church, and local residents.
Following the lead of preschoolers wearing yellow, plastic construction hats, those gathered said the Pledge of Allegiance and listened while the six classes sang and pantomimed to “You’re A Grand Old Flag.”
Roberts thanked his fellow board members, taxpayers and staff of the area’s school system. He told the crowd that the day marked a cap on an effort that started with the strategic planning phase six years ago.
Paskalides noted that the present facility, which is 40 years old and was only supposed to be a temporary structure, is woefully inadequate in size and suitability for “our most vulnerable students.” The needs of the preschool became a district priority and voters answered the call to action by approving the referendum, a development that Paskalides said pleased him immensely but did not surprise him.
The community of Middle Township, Paskalides said, has always done the right thing for its schools.
The groundbreaking for the future Middle Township Preschool Facility, as it is termed, marks a “visible milestone” for the community, stated Paskalides.
True visibility will occur when the new building, which will host seven pre-Kindergarten classrooms, an additional gymnasium, an enlarged nursing office, and a physical therapy room, is finished and open, most likely, in the spring of 2018.
Gallagher and Wilkinson told The Herald that work will begin in the first or second week of December after they secure the appropriate permits.
To contact Christopher Knoll, email cknoll@cmcherald.com.