Earlier this week, Johnston Public Schools celebrated a milestone in the construction of the town’s newest school building.

“The final beam was put into place at this morning's Johnston Elementary School Topping Off Ceremony,” Johnston Schools posted on social media Tuesday evening. “The new school, which is slated to be ready by the fall of 2026, is right next door to Johnston Senior High School, the Johnston Soccer Complex and the Indoor Recreation Center.”

Johnston Mayor Joseph M. Polisena Jr. addressed the crowd.

“When this project was envisioned, we were living in a different world than what we see today,” he said. “Interest rates were low, materials were affordable and labor prices were manageable. Then, COVID upended everything. Low interest rates almost tripled, supply chain issues yielded astronomical price increases and a mass exodus in the labor market caused unimaginable delays.”

Town and school officials also plan to build a new high school. Some elected officials, including the president of Town Council, Robert Russo, however, think the new high school plans don’t address potential population growth in town (Russo recently called for a pause in new school building projects). Those issues will likely be re-examined soon by the Johnston School Building Committee.

Regardless, Tuesday’s ceremony was a celebration of public works achievement.

“But here we are, on time and on budget, about to place the final beam on this historic structure, and when you really think about it, as much as the world has changed since then, much of it still remains the same,” Polisena told the crowd. “That is our duty to our children, family, friends and even total strangers. A responsibility to provide support for those in need and to foster connections that transcend time and circumstance.”

Johnston Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bernard DiLullo Jr. served as event’s Master of Ceremony. He and other key administrators and elected officials each received a “beam momento.”

“This beam isn’t just a piece of steel, it’s a testament to our resilience as Johnston and a symbol of the community we’ve built together,” Polisena said. “As we lift it into place, we honor the past while embracing the future, reminding ourselves that progress isn’t just about physical structures, but is also about the bonds we forge and lives we impact.”

Other dignitaries in attendance at the Johnston Elementary School Topping Off Ceremony included U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner, state Treasurer James Diossa, Rhode Island House Speaker state Rep. K. Joseph Shekarchi, the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) Deputy Commissioner of Instructional Programs Lisa Odom-Villella.

“In this moment, we are not just constructing a building, we are constructing a commitment,” Polisena concluded. “A commitment to those (who) have come before us and to those who will come after us. I’m proud to share this moment with you, because with everything that’s happened, with everything we’ve all been through, you, as residents of Johnston, you as members of our community, you’ve earned this.”