“In Bridgeport, we are focused on preparing our kids to compete for the jobs of tomorrow. In order to do just that, we’re giving more kids access to high-quality pre-k and we’re building new schools in order to ensure our kids are learning in the right environment.” – Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch
- WHO: Mayor Bill Finch, School Officials, Community Leaders, Elected Officials.
- WHAT: Announcing the start of construction at Harding High School replacement site.
- WHERE: Site of the New High School, 379 Bond Street, (Entrance gate is located at the corner of Bond Street and Tudor Street), Bridgeport, CT.
- WHEN: Friday, August 28 at 11:00 a.m.
Bridgeport, Conn (August 28, 2015) – Today, Mayor Bill Finch will celebrate the start of construction on the new high school to replace the 90 year-old Harding High School. to celebrate the construction of a new school to replace the 90-year-old high school.
“In Bridgeport, we are focused on preparing our kids to compete for the jobs of tomorrow. In order to do just that, we’re giving more kids access to high-quality pre-k and we’re building new schools in order to ensure our kids are learning in the right environment,” said Bridgeport Mayor Finch. “The Harding High School community deserves a new state-of-the-art campus, and thanks to years of hard work we’re doing just that.”
The $106 million new high school will be 210,000-square-foot, and will be home to 1,150 students. The site includes a football field, baseball field, and eight-lane running track. The state of Connecticut will cover 78 percent of the cost of the new school.
Mayor Finch has publicly stated that he would like to name the new high school Barack Obama High School.
The new school replacing Harding High School will be located at the former GE manufacturing facility site located at the corner of Boston Avenue and Bond Street.
GE has owned the land that will serve as the future home of the new high school since 1920.
It served as home to a manufacturing facility until 2007.
GE began deconstruction of the property where the new school will be located in 2010, and completed deconstruction in 2012.
In 2013, the city and GE tentatively identified a portion of the company’s nearly 77 acre parcel that would be suitable for the construction of the new high school.
That same year the City of Bridgeport and General Electric entered into a site access agreement.
The construction of this new school is a part of Mayor Finch’s school construction program.
This initiative includes renovating old – and building new – schools so that kids can learn in the right environment.
Nearly $730 million has been invested in current, completed and future school construction projects.
Once complete, more than half of Bridgeport kids will be attending new or renovated schools, and the construction program will have created more than 3,000 jobs.