Greenville is Back: Groundbreaking Celebrates the Return of a Beloved School
July 1st, 2025
On a sunny June afternoon, members of the Norwich community gathered on Golden Street to celebrate not just a groundbreaking — but a homecoming.
The future Greenville Elementary School, now officially underway, will bring new life to the same site that housed the original school, which closed in 2010 due to accessibility, budget, and parking constraints. For the neighborhood that once rallied around that building as a community cornerstone, Monday’s ceremony marked a meaningful return.
Construction Solutions Group (CSG) is proud to serve as Owner’s Project Manager for the second of six new schools being delivered through the City of Norwich’s historic $385 million school construction program.
Speakers throughout the afternoon reflected a shared sense of pride, perseverance, and purpose. Dr. Marianne Nardone, former principal of the original Greenville School, described it as a true community center — a place where families felt welcomed and supported. She recalled a Norwich Bulletin headline from 2010: “Families bid Greenville goodbye.” At the podium, she offered a powerful reply: “Today, we say hello again.”
Pictured from left to right: Tim Smith, Mark Bettencourt,
Mike Faenza, and Mike Jackson
State Representative Derrell Wilson, a graduate of Norwich Public Schools and former Greenville student, described the surrounding neighborhood as “resilient” — a densely populated area that has endured many evolutions of change.
With 37 languages spoken and dozens of ethnic backgrounds represented, Greenville was identified early in the Facilities Review Committee’s process as a top priority for reinvestment. Mayor Peter Nystrom emphasized the importance of listening to the community and delivering on the promise to restore this vital resource.
Building Committee Chairman Mark Bettencourt acknowledged the challenges of the site — ledge, rock, and extensive sitework — but underscored that the effort is well worth it. The return of Greenville is not only an investment in education, but in community.
The new school will once again serve as a vital anchor in one of Norwich’s most historic and dynamic neighborhoods.
CSG is honored to help bring Greenville back — and forward — alongside our design and construction partners, DRA and Downes Construction.
