SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Two aging elementary schools in Springfield’s Mason Square neighborhood are being replaced by a $95 million facility.

City officials gathered at the Monroe and Hawley Street Parking area in Springfield at 10:30 Tuesday morning for the ceremony. In attendance for the ground breaking included: Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Superintendent of Schools Daniel Warwick, Director of the Department of Capital Asset Construction Peter Garvey, MSBA Executive Director Jack McCarthy, State Representative Bud Williams, Ward 4 City Councilor Malo Brown, School Committeewoman Barbara Gresham, and School Building Commission Chair Norman Roldan.

The school will merge students from two of the city’s oldest school buildings. The Homer Street school opened in 1898 and The DeBerry school was built in 1951. These plans have been in the works since 2019.

Construction on the school should be complete by 2023.