Community celebrates an old school made new
Construction project at Lawrence Brook completed this month
BY MARY ANNE ROSS Correspondent

PHOTOS BY SCOTT FRIEDMAN John Broehl points to himself in his class picture from Lawrence Brook Elementary School, East Brunswick, while his daughters Jacqueline, 6, Kristen, 14, and Alexandra, 17, look on during the community open house to celebrate the completion of additions and renovations at the school. Alumni were invited to bring pictures and artifacts.

EAST BRUNSWICK - Students, alumni, parents and teachers gathered recently to celebrate the bigger and better Lawrence Brook School.

Originally built in 1959, the school underwent major renovations and expansion over the past two years, part of a $106.1 million project involving three township schools. The Lawrence Brook portion of the project was completed earlier this month with the opening of the fifth-grade wing.

During an open house at the Sullivan Way building Nov. 17, school Principal Christine Raymond cut a ribbon, which was held on either side by Board of Education members Meredith Shaw and Vicki Becker, both of whom are former Lawrence Brook parents.

Visitors browsed through photo collages of the school's past, puzzled over trivia questions about Lawrence Brook history and enjoyed performances by the student string quartet and choir.

Ashlee Mortimer, 9, tries out the ivories in the new music room at Lawrence Brook.

"The building is really healthier now," Shaw said. "There is a new heating system and ventilation, and instead of chalkboards there are dry-erase boards."

The expansion included 14 new classrooms.

With the additions completed at Lawrence Brook and at Central Elementary School earlier this year, students in East Brunswick's elementary schools were able to return to their "home schools," or those closest to where they live. In recent years, some schools became too full, and students who would have attended there were sent to schools farther away.

"One of the great things about the renovation is that now all the students who live in the area can attend school here," Becker said. "Can you imagine moving to a new home that's located right across the street from the school and being told your child has to be bused to another school? That won't happen anymore."

The gym at Lawrence Brook has been modernized, and there is also a new cafeteria, kitchen and media room.

"There is an open, airy feeling about the building. There's a lot more natural light, which is really conducive to learning," Shaw said.

The school also has updated equipment in the classrooms, including computers and televisions.

"People were really taken aback to see this little school transformed in a way to meet the challenges of the 21st century," Shaw said of the response from visitors at the open house.

Becker, who sits on the board's Buildings and Grounds Committee, noted how much time, effort and dedication it took to plan and see the construction to fruition.

"This has been in the works for several years," she said.

Becker explained that an important part of the process was getting feedback about the architectural plans from the community, as well as from the principal and staff at Lawrence Brook.

"We really needed to hear what they thought and needed," she said.

Life and learning at Lawrence Brook had to go on around the construction and renovations. Traffic patterns for the parents changed, classes were moved around, and entrances and exits were altered.

"The teachers were troopers of the first degree," Becker said. "I can't say enough good things about them."

She noted that before school starts in September, teachers usually spend a week or two getting the classrooms ready.

"This year they only had a day, but they brought in friends and relatives to help, and the rooms were as welcoming as always," Becker said.

Alumnus John Buehl graduated from Lawrence Brook in 1981, and his children, including one at present, have attended the school.

"It was fun looking at the photos in the scrapbooks," he said of the open house.

What did he like best about the changes?

"It's really bright and welcoming, and that's the way the teachers are. Now the environment really reflects the attitudes of the staff," Buehl said.

Becker would agree.

"Even though it's bigger and more modern, it still has that small school feeling," she said.