Updated, Sept. 4
It was a big day for students in Tisbury on Tuesday as a new, $82-million newly renovated school opened its doors to a new year for the first time.
Outside the new Tisbury School, students shared what they most looked forward to after spending the past two years in makeshift classrooms within modular buildings.
“I’m excited to see the more spacious classrooms,” seventh-grader Heitor Lopes told The Times.
Schools around the Island opened to students on Tuesday, but there was extra significance at the Tisbury School, with anticipation for the unveiling of a project that has weighed heavily on local town politics and taxpayers.
In the past decade, there were reports of air-quality issues in the original school, which is over 90 years old; chipping lead paint was discovered in 2019, a year after voters rejected a funding request for a project by just 21 votes that would have included a significant amount of state funding. The renovation was finally fully approved by voters in 2022 when additional funds were granted to keep renovation going.
“Every year, the first day of school is special,” said Principal John Custer. “This year, for our school community, it means so much more. We feel such gratitude and happiness in finally opening the doors of this amazing, renovated school to our students.”
The construction project aims to address space needs for current and future students and improve accessibility for individuals with impaired mobility, and it aligns with Tisbury’s Green Community pledge by eliminating fossil-fuel use.
Final construction work on the building continued right up until buses started lining up with energetic and nervous students ready for their first day. The east side of the building still has some work to be done, and the far end of the playground is not accessible to children until the grass starts to take.
Families walking toward the new building were navigating sidewalks dampened by morning sprinklers, with some overly excited students dragging their parents hand in hand through the mist.
Kindergartener Emilia Larsson said she most looked forward to reading time in the new library, while her older brother, entering second grade, was eager to try out the new playground.
“I hope they have a bigger library with anime books. That’s my favorite type of book to read,” added fellow second grader Zidon Laurence.
Parents shared their children’s enthusiasm, and were thankful to see them back in the renovated building.
“I have two who are coming to the school for the first time,” said Vicki Dunbar, a mother of a fourth and an eighth grader. The family is new to the Island.
“It’s been a long time coming, but watching the transition of the building and the community come together has been great, and we are excited to be a part of it,” Dunbar said.
To prepare for the highly anticipated first day back, teachers were allowed in their classrooms on August 24, earlier than usual.
“I did a lot of unpacking and a lot of rearranging,” said fourth grade teacher Meredith Goldthwait. “I think I have changed the classroom design three different times. I always make sure the classroom is accessible and comfortable for students, because it’s like a second home.”
For school committee members, while there was still work to be done, they were proud to see students returning to the school.
Michael Watts, who has been on the Tisbury School committee for five years, has been looking forward to this day for a long time.
“I hope they are proud of this building. I look at public education as the bedrock of the U.S. You start with kids and you teach them well, and they are the community later, and so funding a very expensive building like this is taking care of our future,” said Watts.
Amy Houghton, chair of the Tisbury School committee, was grateful to the Tisbury School teachers.
“The teachers have been working their tails off for two weeks now trying to get everything in order. Everything has been last-minute, as you can see with us trying to keep the kids off the sod,” she said. “We have other things that will have to happen in the building,” she added as construction workers hammered in stakes surrounding the newly laid sod.
For Principal Custer — who is an alum of the school, father of two alums, and served as a teacher and assistant principal in Tisbury — the first day of school was somewhat emotional. “My father, who worked in education for decades, used to remind me never to forget that schools are for kids. I know that, and it’s my privilege to work in a community that supports kids and education,” said Custer. “I appreciate the history and tradition of the Tisbury School. I’m thrilled for our students as the renovated school opens, and grateful to our community for making this possible. We are very fortunate.”
