Today’s edition of the Andover Townsman includes this letter to the community from Jeannie Sullivan, President of the Bancroft PTO:
On behalf of the Bancroft Elementary PTO, I offer my sincerest gratitude to all those involved in the planning and construction of the new Bancroft Elementary School. My daughter, Ellie, was in kindergarten at Bancroft in 2008 when the planning for this project commenced. This year, Ellie is a member of Bancroft’s fifth grade — the final class to graduate from the original Bancroft.
In the course of the last six years, I’ve participated on a variety of planning committees. I’ve helped to “get out the vote” for two Town Meetings. I’ve listened as my kids excitedly recounted their participation in both the ground-breaking and in the signing of the final beam. I’ve seen the school, almost daily, grow from foundation to near completion and have enjoyed Principal Dr. Malcolm Forsman’s frequent construction updates and photos.
On the eve of the school’s official completion, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people directly involved in this enormous project:
School Building Committee: Tom Deso, Joseph Reilly, Superintendent Dr. Marinel McGrath, Dr. Forsman, Ed Ataide, Annie Gilbert, William Held and Emil Frei
Former School Building Committee members: Former Superintendent Dr. Claudia L. Bach, Francine Goldstein, Mark Johnson, the late Maria Maggio and Joseph Piantedosi
School Committee: Annie Gilbert, Paula Colby-Clements, Barbara L’Italien, David Birnbach and Joel Blumstein
Former School Committee members: Dennis Forgue, Debra Silberstein, Tony James and the late Dick Collins
Also: Town Manager Reginald S. Stapczynski, Skanska USA Building, Symmes Maini & McKee Associates and Dore & Whittier Management Partners
In addition, I would like to thank the teachers and staff at Bancroft who remained positive throughout this sometimes tedious process and turned it into an opportunity for learning. I would also like to thank the teachers, staff, parents and community members who sat on various committees to provide input on everything from classroom wish lists to playground equipment. Additional thanks to the parents, students and neighbors of Bancroft who patiently endured challenges to play space, traffic routing and parking.
Finally, and most importantly, I would like to thank the entire town of Andover for supporting this project through both Town Meetings. The new Bancroft may be a neighborhood school, but it is also a handsome representation of the good that comes out of a community working together in the interest of its children, and for that I am deeply grateful.
Jeannie Sullivan
President, Bancroft PTO