CARIBOU, Maine — Caribou students became a part of local history on June 10 during a ceremony in which they all signed a beam to be used in the construction of the Caribou Community School.
RSU 39 Superintendent Tim Doak welcomed students, staff and contractors to the event, and began by emphasizing that the new school, scheduled for completion in August 2020, is “designed around the students.”
“The students are the most important aspect of this building,” he said, “so we came up with the idea of a beam signing ceremony.”
Several student signatures cover a beam that will be exposed in the Caribou Community School’s Innovation Center, allowing students to become a part of the new building’s history.
(Chris Bouchard)
Doak thanked lead contractor Bowman Constructors of Newport and local subcontractor Soderberg Construction, who were both hard at work on the new school as well as the future park across the street during the ceremony.
Once the new school is finished, the beam will be exposed in the Innovation Center, an area of the building dedicated to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) activities such as coding, robotics, new technology and creative design.
“You’ll be able to look up and see your name,” Doak said, “and know that you’re a part of history.”
Lead contractor Kevin Bowman, who was invited to say a few words, thanked the local subcontractors who are helping out on the project.
“Soderberg is a big piece of this project,” he said, “but there’s also Powers Roofing, County Abatement and Underwood Electric. It’s a unique situation for us to be here in a community where we can get so much good help.”
Bowman added that he had been a member of a school board for eight years, and that he understands what the administration had to do in order to get the project off the ground.
“This project is for the students,” he said to the sixth-graders attending the ceremony. “It’s for you. And the education you’re going to get through this facility is just going to be amazing.”
Students sign a beam that will be used in the new Caribou Community School’s Innovation Center during a June 10 ceremony.
(Chris Bouchard)
Aroostook County Teacher of the Year Kim Barnes, who teaches seventh and eighth grade at Caribou Middle School, spoke about the future opportunities that will come from the new facility.
“A brand new school will bring opportunities to our community,” she said, “opportunities to learn together. Caribou Community School will be a place where we learn to be resilient in order to encourage, build up and support each other. Lessons learned here will not just be about math and reading, but about life.”
Barnes concluded that the beam signing will “designate the beginning of our new school, where education will be steeped in 21st century learning; it is the foundation we build for Caribou’s children for generations to come.”
Sixth-grader Gage Hale said he was excited to be able to sign the beam, and that he’s looking forward to seeing how the new classrooms turn out.
“It’s going to be a wonderful year,” said Hale.
Madelyn Cote said that, as a sixth-grader, her class will be the first to graduate from the new building.
RSU 39 Superintendent Tim Doak, left, and Kevin Bowman of Bowman Constructors, lead contractor on the Caribou Community School construction project, speak to students and guests during a June 10 beam signing ceremony.
(Chris Bouchard)
“I’d like to see what all the new classes are going to look like,” Cote said, “because it’s going to be bigger, and I feel like the Innovation Center will be cool.”
Isabella Sleeper also was excited about being in the first class to graduate from the new facility, as well as being able to sign the beam.
“It’s cool because it’s a part of the school,” Sleeper said, “and all the people who come in and out of the school will be able to see our names.”
Joslyn Griffeth said she’s excited to be in a more modern building.
“We’ll have nicer furniture and better chairs,” Griffeth said, “and it will be more updated and up to speed.”
Ainsley Caron said she’s excited to be among the first class to graduate, and to be able to look back on the beam signing when she’s older.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Caron said, “and the new fields will be better for people who are playing sports.”
