Hawley Elementary School Principal Christopher Moretti presented the apparent final update on the building’s renovations at the Board of Education meeting September 5.

The school had undergone extensive work throughout the past year, a process temporarily dividing its students between classrooms at Reed Intermediate and Sandy Hook schools.

As of August 30, class was back in session for all Newtown Public Schools, and Hawley students returned to their home building.

“It’s been a very long journey for Hawley School,” said Moretti in his opening comments.

Moretti thanked the town for its investment in the school to improve air quality and conditioning.

“Now, instead of appearing that I’m sweating all day, I’m starting to appear that I’m freezing all day,” he said.

Moretti also gave thanks to the BOE for its support, careful planning and questioning throughout the process, as well as ensuring the school “maintained its spirit throughout the split.”

Moretti said the host schools “could not have been more welcoming or accommodating,” and added the outside PTAs were “inclusive and cooperative.”

“We were afforded every opportunity to benefit in both of their buildings, and we were made to feel at home,” he said, later adding his teachers “really enjoyed” sharing buildings with their Reed and Sandy Hook counterparts.

Despite their challenges from “baptism by fire,” as Moretti described it, the principal had high praise for the Hawley PTA who had to make split dates for school events among other challenges. He also praised Hawley parents for navigating changes in routine, and their high rates of volunteerism.

Moretti thanked the custodial staff who spent the summer “making sure everyone returning had everything they needed, while also cleaning up after the movers and the contractors that were still in [the] building,” among normal duties.

Moretti said the custodial staff had probably felt the delay in the switchgear delivery “the most” — referring to a huge project hang-up concerning the building’s electricity, which had lasted nearly a year and ended in July.

Moretti thanked the technology department for Newtown Public Schools, and included specific Hawley teachers and staff members.

‘A Herculean Task’

He described “a Herculean task completed by the Hawley teachers and staff”: packing and moving the elementary school and setting it up in new locations, and “retaining the Hawley spirit the entire year they were displaced.”

The principal detailed the process of the return to the building as well, with each faculty member unpacking “25 to 50 bins” of numerous materials, decorating walls, and placing furniture.

“The work took not hours, not days, but it took weeks, and they did it because that’s what needed to be done for Hawley, and what needed to be done for their students,” he said.

Moretti attested he was inspired by the entire Hawley community, and proud to be a leader at the school.

During comments, board members offered their thanks to the principal and expressed they were impressed with the execution of the project.

Referencing continued discussions about HVAC improvements, Board Member Alison Plante asked about lessons learned from the experience and what could have been done differently.

“Honestly, I think it was very well-planned. It was an enormous task. There was never enough time to do it,” he said.

“We gave great thought to everything … from the top to the bottom,” the principal continued, asking the Board of Education to “do that again” in future projects.

“Have a committee, have all stakeholders as part of the conversation, let all questions be asked,” Moretti said.

He added, “realizing there are things that are going to go wrong” as part of his advice, and that coming together as a team is what gets the job done.

“We ran into significant issues along the way,” said Superintendent Chris Melillo in his comment.

Melillo commended Moretti, detailing examples of his positivity and leadership during different logistical challenges.

“I don’t know, Chris, if you realize without that can-do attitude, I don’t think … we would have been able to open,” said Melillo to the principal.

HVAC issues at other Newtown schools was a “hot” topic during earlier parts of the meeting following the superintendent’s report.

Coverage on this discussion and the superintendent’s presentation on his 2023-2024 goals will be included in upcoming editions of The Newtown Bee.

Reporter Noelle Veillette can be reached at noelle@thebee.com.