There was quite a transition in Portland this week, when residents said goodbye to the century-old Nathan Clifford Elementary School and said hello to the new Ocean Avenue Elementary School, which will open for business after February vacation.

Clifford was a beloved community asset, and its families and staff fought hard to save it when it was slated for replacement in 2006 and 2007. The battle went on longer than it should have, and $14.2 million of state funding was put in jeopardy while fans of the stately old school tried to get it renovated instead of replaced.

When that battle was finally decided by a citywide vote, construction got under way at the site of the old Baxter School near Back Cove.

This week, the public got a chance to see what the students will see later this month — and they liked what they saw.

The new building may lack some of the old one’s charm, but it is bigger, safer, more energy efficient and better equipped to meet the needs of modern teachers and students, from hands-free bathroom fixtures to computers in the classrooms.

Elementary school is hugely important in setting the habits for success in school and life, and the kids at the Ocean Avenue Elementary School will be able to do that without the distractions and compromises that come with an aging building.

But it’s not all about the building. The open houses at the two facilities were a reminder that the teachers and the students are what really matter, and someday the whole community can hope that the new school has the same dedicated fans as the one it has replaced.

 

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