Topping Off Ceremony at New WHS is a 'Great Step Forward'

A school that has been years in the making is just months from completion. And on Tuesday, a crowd at Alumni Stadium got to watch as one of the key pieces of the new Wilmington High School was put into place.

School, town, and state officials joined members of the construction crews and a crowd of students and other residents during a topping off ceremony that took place before the final structural beam was lifted into place by a crane.

"It's very exciting," said Superintendent Joanne Benton, who has watched the construction daily from her nearby office in the Roman House. "I've had a front row seat, so I've been able to watch every day as the beams went up. So it's great to be able to see the final beam go up."

Members of the Class of 2014 signed the beam last week, and on Tuesday more signatures were added before it was lifted away. Construction will continue over the upcoming months before the school is scheduled to open in February 2015.

"This is a great step forward," said Rep. Jim Miceli. "Wilmington has shown it's always willing to invest in the future of its young people. I've broken ground for many buildings. But this one has a special meaning."