What a crew! Officials gathered Saturday morning to celebrate the groundbreaking for the state’s largest school building project–the $125 million, 1,500 seat Fairchild Wheeler Multi Magnet High School. Taking the first shovelful of dirt are, from left, Congressman Jim Himes, State Rep. Auden Grogins, State Sen. Anthony Musto, Bridgeport City Council President Tom McCarthy, Joan Wheeler duPont, granddaughter of Daniel Fairchild Wheeler, Supt. of Schools John Ramos Sr., Mayor Bill Finch, State Rep. Andres Ayala and State Rep. Charles “Don” Clemons.
From Mayor Bil Finch:
City, state and federal officials joined Daniel Fairchild Wheeler’s granddaughter to break ground Saturday morning for the largest school building project in state history. The new, 1,500-seat Fairchild Wheeler Multi Magnet High School will be the first new high school to be built in Bridgeport in 50 years. When finished, the new school will offer 1,000 seats for Bridgeport students, with the balance open to students from Trumbull, Monroe, Easton, Fairfield, Shelton, Stratford and Milford.
About 50 people perched on chairs arranged at the mouth of the driveway opening for the new school to hear Mayor Bill Finch, Supt. of Schools John Ramos Sr., Congressman Himes, and Mrs. DuPont discuss the importance of the new high school and the expanded educational opportunities it will offer to students from Bridgeport and the surrounding area.
“We;ve waited a long time for this day, but it’s finally here,” said Mayor Finch. “This school will provide our students with a world-class education that will prepare them for the 21st century world we live in. The curriculum–focusing on aviation, science and information technology–will be one of the most advanced of any high school in the state. We are very grateful to the Wheeler family for allowing us to use the land, which was deeded to the City as a park, to provide a unique educational experience for our students while honoring the family’s wishes.” Mayor Finch also praised the diversified student learning experience the school will provide, as well as the hundreds of jobs that will be created during the anticipated two-year construction period for the school.
Joan Wheeler duPont, Daniel Fairchild Wheeler granddaughter, represented the family at Saturday’s event. “I’m pleased that my family’s legacy and name will be connected with a project that will both honor my grandfather’s wishes, and provide an environmentally sustainable building with a fantastic educational opportunity benefiting the region’s schoolchildren.”
In his brief remarks, Superintendent of School Ramos emphasized the “excellence in equity” that the school will mean to the district, noting how the magnet school will draw from six surrounding towns.
Congressman Himes noted that “there is no better investment in our future than spending money on the education of our children.” Himes also noted the school’s unique curriculum will provide its graduates with the educational background to “start their own company or be an entrepreneur” in a 21st century world that is centered more and more on science and technology.
Daniel Fairchild Wheeler left the land to the City nearly 100 years ago, with instructions that it be used as park land. Approximately 30 acres will be used to construct the school, and the surrounding acreage will be improved with hiking trails and better public access for all to enjoy. The state Legislature voted unanimously last spring to change the city’s boundaries with neighboring Trumbull to move the acreage needed to build the school into Bridgeport in order to allow the project to move forward.
JCJ Architecture of Hartford designed the school, which will feature underground parking, and limited above-ground parking, with an environmentally friendly design meant to minimize the impact of the building on the surrounding woodlands. Fusco Corporation of New Haven has already begun construction on the site; the school is expected to be completed in Fall 2013.
Leveraging a Magnet School groundbreaking to try and pump up the numbers for Primary Day. Classy. And just looky look at the cast of characters who just happened to be available three days before the primary. Underwhelmed. BARF.
What a motley crew of political hacks. After looking at this photograph I need Alka Seltzer.
Perhaps you should try Ex-Lax instead since your postings are always so full of crap. It amazes me someone of your caliber is always so quick to insult people who actually have made their mark in life.
That’s all you have to say? Can’t think of anything this motley bunch of careerist political hacks had done for the benefit of the people of the city of Bridgeport?
I used to be on the board of GroundWorks Trust Bridgeport, and I don’t remember anyone bringing up support received from the city at meetings I attended.
But I still get emails through the BOE:
Multi-Magnet High School Moves Forward
On Wednesday, Mayor Bill Finch and Department of Energy and Environment Protection (DEEP) representatives signed the deed transferring the land for the new, 1,500-seat Fairchild-Wheeler Multi-Magnet High School in Bridgeport.
Earlier this year, the State Legislature and Governor Dannel Malloy approved a border change that placed the state-owned parkland where the school will be located in Bridgeport.
The high school, which will be the City’s first new high school in fifty years, will be one of the greenest buildings in the state and will offer a specialized curriculum focused on sciences and aeronautics, zoology and information technology.
Most of the 1,500 available slots will be filled by Bridgeport students and the remainder from Trumbull, Easton, Monroe, Fairfield, Milford, Shelton and Stratford.
On Saturday, Mayor Finch will break ground on the new high school alongside city, state and federal elected officials, Mayors and First Selectman representing the eight towns that the Fairchild-Wheeler Multi-Magnet High School will serve.
Mayor Bill Finch, Robert Berchem, attorney, Steven Studer, attorney, Joan Wheeler duPont, a granddaughter of Daniel Fairchild Wheeler, Elizabeth Brothers, Assistant Director Land Acquisition and Management, DEEP, Robert Hedman, O&G Industries, Claire Gold, former Westport Superintendent of Schools
City Switches to Single Stream Recycling, Expands Recyclebank rewards program citywide
Mayor Bill Finch, along with representatives of Recyclebank (www .recyclebank.com), City staff and City Council representatives, announced the City’s switch to single stream recycling, and the expansion of the Recyclebank recycling-for-rewards program citywide.
The Mayor joined North End residents Joe and Lee Cavaliere at their home on Tuesday to demonstrate the benefits of single stream recycling and the rewards residents can earn by signing up with Recyclebank.
(www .recyclebank.com) rewards people for taking everyday green actions with discounts and deals from local and national businesses. Residents can earn points each time they recycle and spend those points on rewards from hundreds of local and national businesses, including Tuscany Ristorante, Take Time Cafe, Luigis Italian Pastry and Subway, and many more.
Residents began earning points for recycling on pick-up day, Thursday, Sept. 1.
“Through our ongoing efforts, the City of Bridgeport has made great strides in the past year to encourage recycling. The more our residents recycle, the more money the City saves in tipping fees at the trash plant,” said Mayor Finch. Single stream recycling is convenient for our residents, no more need to sort it all goes into the blue bin.
Click here to watch DoingitLocal.com’s coverage of Tuesday’s demonstration. (a target=”_blank” href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zccECcAlOLM”>www .youtube.com/watch?v=zccECcAlOLM)
On Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Bill Finch visited the home of North End residents Joe and Lee Cavaliere to demonstrate the benefits of single stream recycling.
Small Business Administration Opens Satellite Office in City Hall Annex
Mayor Bill Finch along with U.S. Rep. Jim Himes and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) officials and staff members celebrated the opening of a new SBA satellite office in City Hall Annex on Monday afternoon.
The SBA consists of 3,000 employees nationwide whose mission is to help entrepreneurs and small business owners grow and create jobs by providing greater access to capital, counseling, federal contracting opportunities, disaster assistance and more.
The City of Bridgeport is partnering with the SBA to expand resources available to small businesses such as technical assistance, one-on-one counseling and primarily financial support. The SBA will work with the City of Bridgeport to facilitate loans, guarantee bonds and help identify venture capital.
“We are proud to partner with the SBA, providing them with a home in Bridgeport, giving our small businesses and entrepreneurs convenient access to their services and expertise,” said Mayor Finch. “The City of Bridgeport and the SBA worked together following the tornado of 2010 to provide our business owners with the necessary relief that other federal agencies could not provide. The opening of the new satellite office expands our current relationship and will greatly benefit our small businesses.”
Click here (www .scribd.com/fullscreen/65974200?access_key=key-s3gwprbgv1n2xzsga30) for more information on a six (6) week small business workshops series hosted by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Partnership with the Greater Bridgeport Chapter of SCORE, the SBA and the City of Bridgeport Small and Minority Business Resource Office.
Mayor Bill Finch, U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, join Jeanne A. Hulit, SBA’s New England Regional Administrator, Deborah Caviness, Director of the City of Bridgeport’s Small, Minority Business Resource Office, Julio Casiano, SBA Deputy Director, State Rep. Ezequiel Santiago, Radio Cumbre’s Pablo Colon Sr. and Pablo Colon Jr.
Seven Police Officers Promoted by City
At a ceremony held on Thursday morning, Mayor Bill Finch and Police Chief Joseph Gaudett Jr. promoted 7 officers, 6 to the rank of detective and one detective to the rank of sergeant.
During the ceremony, attended by 60 friends, relatives and colleagues of the officers in the Mayor’s Conference Room, Mayor Finch applauded the efforts of the newly promoted officers for their commitment to the citizens of Bridgeport and praised each of the officer’s family members for their sacrifices.
Promoted to Detective were:
Artur Calvao
Jason Ferri
Ramone Garcia
Kenneth McKenna
Edward Martocchio
Sean Ronan
Promoted to Sergeant:
Mark Belinkie
Mayor Bill Finch and Police Chief Joseph Gaudett swear in seven promoted Bridgeport Police Officers at a ceremony held at City Hall Annex on Thursday morning.
Coming Up
2011-12 Bridgeport Sound Tigers tickets are on sale now!
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers single game tickets for the 2011-12 season are now on sale.
All fans can purchase single game tickets by visiting the Webster Bank Arena Click It or Ticket Box Office, visiting ticketmaster.com (ticketmaster.com) or calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000.
Fans have various price points to choose from, starting with tickets as low as $15. For all ticket pricing options, visit soundtigers.com (soundtigers.com)
The Sound Tigers regular season begins Oct. 8 when they host the Portland Pirates at Webster Bank Arena at 7 p.m. Now is the time to get your tickets and gear up for the 2011-12 regular season. For more information on season and partial ticket plans as well as group outings and discounts, call the Sound Tigers at (203) 334-GOAL or e-mail info@soundtigers.com.
Once this state of the art facility is built, who maintains it? Is it Bridgeport’s problem? If it is, then isn’t it ironic (or moronic) we’re adding another school and not adding any more $$$ to the budget to maintain what we have now? Don’t tell me the state will reimburse a portion. You still have to put out the cash first. And don’t say new schools save money. They still need electricity, and heat, and paint, etc.
As nice as it is to have such a school, this article emphasizes the negative aspect of not generating revenue. This city needs industrial revenue. This city needs commercial revenue. You cannot pay for the repair or replacement of schools on the homeowners’ backs. Residential taxes are negative as you need to provide more police, more firemen, more public works, more teachers, and more maintenance. Commercial and industrial taxes are positive taxes as you don’t need those services. Politicians don’t understand positive revenues are the answer. Otherwise you need to raise residential taxes.
Look at the smiling assholes in the photograph. Do you really think they give a damn about maintaining the building? Do you really think they give a shit where the money’s coming from? This was a photo opportunity, a chance to look good. That’s all Bill Finch has ever been concerned with. Remember that $600 tax rebate? He knew it was an impossibility, but it sounded good.
I heard, from a reliable source, there is an elephant from Beardsley Zoo who died some time back, buried at Fairchild Wheeler. If this is true, are there plans to exhume and re-bury him or her somewhere else? Does anyone know anything about this?
This school will always have racial overtones because of Trumbull zoning board member and from companies being told who not to hire as minority contractors.
If there is one buried there they will know immediately, when they found one at Seaside landfill several years back it stunk for a week, not a pretty sight either.