Charles H. Bullock School Finally Gets Certificate Of Occupancy

After great anticipation, the first tour of the new Charles H. Bullock Elementary School will finally take place on Tuesday, August 17 from 7 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. now that the school has finally received its certificate of occupancy. The tour is only for Charles H. Bullock parents and students.

The school's principal, Dr. Barbara Weller, said that plans are progressing for the first day of school on September 13 and the Grand Opening celebration on September 14 at 4 p.m.

The school is a real showcase in design. (See photos here.) Indeed, there are motion-activated faucets and self-flushing toilets in the bathrooms. There are brand new easels and a kiln in the art studio. There is a stage and a full-sized basketball court — with adjustable backboards — in the shiny gymnasium. There is a cafeteria and kitchen complete with a pulping station where any paper products are automatically separated and turned into recyclables. There is a tech lab with Mac computers.

And there is a sound system not only in the spacious music suite — chock full of instruments — but there is a sound system in the gymnasium and in the cafeteria. "The Student Council had said it wanted music during lunch and now it will get it," Weller said.

Perhaps the crown jewel is the library, an atrium with brick columns surrounded by benches, not to mention computers, reading nooks, and nearly floor-to-ceiling windows. Outside is a playground and enough fenced-in space so that every class will have their own vegetable plot.

But Weller's favorite part of the new school is its geothermal system.

"It's not very sexy but the whole building will be air conditioned and the cold is coming from the earth," she said. "And in the winter we don't have to heat any air colder than 54 degrees."

Weller said that only the finishing touches are being put on the $35 million school complex at 55 Washington Street just one block off Bloomfield Avenue, and that she'll be thrilled to finally introduce the school to the students. Regarding tours:

• Tours are limited to CHB families only.
• Children may come.
• There are still some workers in the building and rooms are still being set up.  Not all furniture has been delivered. The building looks "close to normal" but not spit-and-polish finished.