Story and Photos: New school dedicated in Owego

Although students attending Owego Elementary School (OES) were welcomed home in January of this year, the school’s dedication happened on Tuesday. With approximately 550 elementary students assembled, outgoing superintendent, Bill Russell, invited key players in the building’s rebuild to a ceremony that officiated the opening of the new school, and thanked those involved in the process.

In September of 2011, Tropical Storm Lee ravaged the area, destroying homes and businesses, along with the Owego Elementary School. Because of the school’s extensive damage, students were forced to travel to Linnaeus W. West Elementary School in Endicott from

September 2011 until December 2015. Outgoing superintendent Bill Russell called Tuesday’s dedication of the school a milestone in flood recovery, and a reflection of the community’s will.

The cost of the new Owego Elementary School is just over $70 million. Approximately $62.5 million of this is funded by FEMA and State funds. The state Department of Education is covering about $6.6 million, and approximately $1 million was expected to come out of the district’s capital reserve for the 120,000-square foot complex. Another $17 million in aid was offered to replace the administration building.

Dr. Russell, on Tuesday, invited dignitaries to the ceremony, such as U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and U.S. Congressman Tom Reed, to help celebrate the project’s completion, and to thank them for their support.

Assembled in front of the school’s entrance, students wore the shirts from January’s homecoming that read, “There’s no place like home.” And after five months in the new school, the students and the teachers are more than pleased.

Second grade teacher’s aide, Cathy Fairbanks, stated that the students love the new school. “Every thing is new and clean,” said Fairbanks.

Fourth grade student William Waldron also likes the new school. “I like the gym and the auditorium,” said Waldron. “They’re really big.”

The new school is double the size of the former school, and is constructed at its same location. But the old school isn’t completely gone. According to architect Dave Degnon,

who worked on the project with Highland Associates, a couple of the bricks were salvaged from the old school and placed in the new one.

“You will always have a piece of the old school,” said Degnon.

Congressman Reed, who was on-hand to speck to the assembly, stated that the dedication of the school is a testament to the “can-do” attitude of the community.

“We came together because it was the right thing to do,” said Reed.

Senator Charles Schumer, who Russell attributed to being the force behind gaining funding from FEMA, also spoke at the assembly.

Schumer held up a photo of the former building in its flooded state, so the younger students, some of whom were nearly infants when the flooding occurred, could see why the rebuild of the school was an important one.

“They rolled up their sleeves and formulated a plan,” Schumer said of the district’s administration and the community.

Schumer described the pursuit of funding from FEMA as an “uphill climb”.

“I had to roll up my sleeves and get involved,” Schumer added.

Senator Fred Akshar was on-hand as a guest, but kept his words brief. Akshar recognized the late Senator Tom Libous for all of the hard work he did prior to his passing.

Owego Mayor Steve May offered words, stating that Owego is a strong community. “This school is proof of that,” said May.

Following remarks by dignitaries, a ribbon was cut to dedicate the new complex. Assisting with the ribbon cutting were Hailey Shrauger, a pre-kindergarten student and Sam Cunningham, fourth grade student at OES who was attending his first day of kindergarten at OES when the school flooded and he was soon displaced.

An Open House for the community is scheduled for Saturday, June 4 from 10 a.m. to noon.

To view a video from the student assembly, ‘Like’ the Owego Pennysaver on Facebook.