'New' Algonquin Regional High School opens

Northborough/Southborough - After years of work, planning, legal battles and blue spotted salamander protection, the newly renovated and expanded Algonquin Regional High School celebrated its grand opening Sept. 4.

Left: Town and school officials gather before the ribbon-cutting at Algonquin Regional High School's grand opening Sept. 4.

"People coming together to do the right thing for kids, that's the most important thing that happened," said Shirley Lundberg, who served as the building committee chair throughout the process.

Lundberg's children were in elementary school when the project began, and are now in college.

"I hope that what they learned from this is that some things are really worth the effort, no matter how hard it is," she said.

The project has taken years, and the opening reflected the eff ort, with speeches by school officials. Former Superintendent Robert E. Melican, who was instrumental in getting the project started, attended, as did as many as 100 others.

The ceremony took place in the new auditorium, and accolades that went out to educators, the building committee members and school administrators rang out in the auditorium.

Former School Superintendent Robert E. Melican addresses the crowd at the grand opening ceremony.

Principal Edward Gallagher has been principal throughout the renovation project.

"The building just complements the educational process so well," he said.

That was in part due to his efforts, Superintendent Charles Gobron said. He lauded Gallagher for keeping the focus on the school during construction.

Students participated in the open house by performing music, singing and leading tours.

Elizabeth Conti, a senior and a tour guide, is very happy with the school.

"It's beautiful," she said, and as captain of the basketball team, she is particularly happy with the gym. "The new basketball floors are awesome."

Cameron Chapski was in the audience during the speeches. As a senior, he's watched many of the changes take place.

"When I started as a freshman here, it was really small. Now it's really big," he said, saying his favorite spot in the new construction is "the rotunda. It's really cool."