By Ed Karvoski Jr., Contributing Writer
Region – The completion of a three-year, $62.4 million renovation was celebrated with a grand reopening Oct. 24 at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School (AVRTHS) in Marlborough. State, local and school officials participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony with AVRTHS Superintendent-Director Ernest Houle, Director of Business Operations Kristopher Luoto, Principal Mark Hollick and School Committee Chair Lynn Ryan of Berlin.
Among the renovations on the 42-year-old building were a new security system with cameras, a fire alarm system and enhanced handicap accessibility; cooling, heating, plumbing and wiring; doors, windows and roofing; and multipurpose science labs.
The Massachusetts School Building Authority contributed 53.5 percent of the cost. The rest was covered by the school’s member communities of Berlin, Hudson, Marlborough, Maynard, Northborough, Southborough and Westborough. Elected officials from each community attended the celebration.
Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito commended the region’s unified effort that made the renovation possible.
“Every community took a vote and produced the additional funding that was necessary; that shows great community support,” she said. “Students have the opportunity to graduate and start their careers here, and to lay their roots in the community that was so good to them growing up.”
State Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton, noted that he’s honored to represent a number of communities in which families enroll their children at AVRTHS.
“It’s wonderful to see a school that has done 21st century technical-vocational education for many, many years,” he said. “And now they have a 21st century school building with the renovation.”
State Rep. Danielle Gregoire, D-Marlborough, praised AVRTH on behalf of her colleagues who were in attendance: state Reps. Carmine Gentile, D-Sudbury; Kate Hogan, D-Stow; and Hannah Kane, R-Shrewsbury.
“I want to congratulate you on this great achievement, and tell you how proud I am to tell people that this school is in the district I represent and in the city that I call home,” she said. “We have one of the greatest programs in the commonwealth right here at Assabet.”
Everyone was invited to tour the campus and stay for lunch in the renovated cafeteria. There, they were entertained with music performed by the AVRTHS Band and a demonstration with the Aztechs 157 Robotics team. Meanwhile, sports teams played in the gym and outdoor fields.
Photos/Ed Karvoski Jr.
