Andover residents can take part in the official groundbreaking next Thursday for the more than $44 million elementary school they voted to support.
Work on the new Bancroft Elementary School, which will replace the existing 1969 building, is ready to begin in earnest. The first concrete footings for the building were poured on Thursday, Sept. 20, and in the coming weeks and months residents will be able to see the new school begin to take shape.
The ceremony is Oct. 4 at noon, at the school that will be accessible this year via West Knoll Road, off South Main Street. Because of the number of people expected for this event, people interested in attending the groundbreaking are asked to park at the Harrison Ice Rink located on the Phillips Academy campus on South Main Street, and to take a free shuttle that will be available.
The School Department put out a release inviting people to the ceremony, saying, "The Town of Andover and the Andover Public Schools cordially invite all members of the Andover community to join us on Thursday, Oct. 4 at 12 p.m. as we celebrate the construction of the new Bancroft School with an official groundbreaking ceremony."
"We encourage everyone who has been a part of this effort--neighbors, parents, community members, current and former staff and students--to join us so that we may thank you for the support you have given to the children of the Bancroft community," said the release sent by School Committee member Annie Gilbert. "Festivities will begin promptly at 12 p.m. at Bancroft School, 15 Bancroft Road. Due to the limited parking available at the construction site, all those attending are asked to park at the Harrison Ice Rink located on the Phillips Academy campus on South Main Street. Shuttles will be available from there to take guests to the construction site, and will return guests to the parking lot following the ceremony."
