Rowe open house draws a crowd

Greenfield Recorder 08/26/2014, Page C06

Recorder staff

ROWE — Big crowds turned out for the open house of the town’s new elementary school this weekend, which opened about two years after the 50-year-old school building was destroyed by fire.

School Principal Bill Knittle said at least 200 people came out for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new building, which opens for its first day of school Wednesday.

“It was just a great day,” Knittle said. “People were very excited to see the new building. There was a great outpouring of positive energy — a great start for this school year.

Built on insurance proceeds from the school fire — and without any state money — construction of the $6.9 million school began December 2013. Designed by Greenberg Associates Architects, the building has four classrooms, a separate Projects Room, a special education wing, administrative offices, a faculty area, cafeteria/community room, and a spacious gymnasium. The school was built by DEW/MacMillan Construction Co. of Vermont.

With the new school, this town of roughly 400 people will also be able to hold meetings and special events in the community room and school gymnasium.

The projected enrollment this year is 60 students, with 32 coming from Rowe and the rest coming through School Choice.

For the last two years, the Rowe School students have shared the Hawlemont Regional School building with Hawlemont schoolchildren.

Sunday’s speakers included School Building Committee Chairwoman Susan Zavotka, Knittle, School Committee Chairwoman Lisa Danek-Burke, Superintendent Jonathan Lev, Selectmen’s Chairwoman Marilyn Wilson, state Rep. Paul Mark, architect Chip Greenberg and school building Project Manager Dan Pallotta of T-3 Construction.

The school’s new telephone number is 413-512-5100, and it has a new website, under construction:www.roweschool.org