(Duxbury students help break ground for the new school building that will house the middle school and high school. Photo: Maggie Cornell)

“This marks the groundbreaking of a monumental project,” said Superintendent of Schools Benedict Tantillo. “A lot of community effort has come together and this building is a well thought out project, reflecting the changes of education in our time.” Other speakers at the event included Elizabeth Lewis, Chair of the School Building Committee and Jack McCarthy, Executive Director of the Mass School Building Authority, as well as Board of Selectmen Chair Ted Flynn.

“I’d like to thank the efforts of our design team,” said Lewis. “We’re very excited to be going forward with this project.”

As the Duxbury Middle School (DMS) music ensemble played to a crowd of teachers, students, parents and town officials, officials dug their shovels into freshly churned earth outside of the DMS, site of the new co-located school.

“It will prove itself to be a great building,” said McCarthy. “We are invested in this community, we are investing in knowledge.”

The speakers at the groundbreaking ceremony all expressed great excitement at the project’s future and had many to thank, especially the community for making the project a reality.

After an indoor ceremony, everyone was invited out to the track for the traditional groundbreaking. All who spoke and others involved in the project, including high school principal Andrew Stephens, lifted their shovels in celebration.

Students and children  were also invited to break ground symbolizing the importance of the project. The School Building Committe expects the new school to be completed by 2014. Oversight of construction is being executed by Mount Vernon Group Architects, KVAssociates and Dimeo Construction.