November 5, 2003, Succasunna, NJ… On November 5, 2003, the Roxbury School District commemorated the additions and renovations taking place at Franklin, Kennedy and Nixon Schools with Groundbreaking Ceremonies at each of these sites. These ceremonies were attended by a host of people, including faculty, staff, students, parents / guardians and community members from each of the schools.
Each of the three ceremonies began with a welcome from the building principal, the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of a patriotic song. Following these opening remarks, Dr. Louis Ripatrazone, Superintendent of Schools, shared with the students the symbolic nature of the groundbreaking ceremony, as well as the fact that each of the children was a part in making history in the Roxbury School District.
Dr. Ripatrazone also introduced Roxbury Board of Education members in attendance at the ceremonies, Mrs. Pat Miller – President, Mr. Robert Badini, Mrs. Theresa D’Agostino, Mrs. Louise Kubala and Mrs. Dolores McCleerey. Introductions followed for, EPIC, Inc. Site Construction Site Manager, Monica Gomez, EPIC, Inc. Project Manager, Bill Morris, SSP Architectural Architect, Bill Lombardi, Porzio, Bromberg and Newman Attorney, Tammy Fahmi and Roxbury’s Township Manager, Mr. Christopher Raths. Dr. Ripatrazone took the opportunity to make each of these introductions a learning event; he explained to the children what each of these individual’s jobs entailed.
Mrs. Miller, BOE President, also extended a welcome to all those in attendance. Additionally, she extended thanks to the parents, guardians and community members for their support in the building project, which will allow the Roxbury School District to enhance the instructional programs offered to the youth of Roxbury.
Four students at each site were then adorned with hard hats and equipped with shovels to symbolically break ground for the first phase of Roxbury’s building project.
