Other coverage:
- Man who built Diman Regional in Fall River 55 years ago watching daughter lead building of new school
- Fall River Diman School Groundbreaking Extra Special for Father-Daughter Duo
Television:
- Commonwealth leaders break ground for new Fall River vocational technical school - WJAR
- Father who built Mass. school watches daughter break ground for new one - WCVB
Audrey Cooney
The Herald News
Current Diman students pose for pictures at the groundbreaking for the new Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School in Fall River on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. Photo by Colin Furze
State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg throws the first soil with Superintendent Brian Bentley after speaking at the groundbreaking for the new Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School in Fall River Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. Photo by Colin Furze
Student representative Hailie Perreira shakes hands with Superintendent Brian Bentley after speaking at the groundbreaking for the new Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School in Fall River Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. Photo by Colin Furze
FALL RIVER — Soon, the new Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School will start to take shape. The project reached a big milestone on Friday with a ceremonial ribbon cutting.
“Today we stand on the threshold of a new and promising chapter of our community’s educational journey,” said Brian Bentley, superintendent for the Greater Fall River Vocational School District.
Bentley said the new school building represents their commitment to providing a world-class education.
“We are not just breaking ground. We are breaking barriers,” he said.
Don DiBlasio, Somerset’s representative on the Greater Fall River Vocational School District Committee and the chair of the school building committee that’s overseeing the new building project, received many shout-outs throughout the ceremony.
So did Senator Michael Rodrigues, who worked to secure $200 million in state funding to supplement school building projects across the state that were hit hard by COVID-related increases in construction costs, including more than $20 million for the Diman project.
In a speech, Rodrigues said that discussions on how to address Diman’s aging building have been happening for 15 years.
With the new building, “Diman will absolutely be the best vocational technical high school in all of Massachusetts,” he said.
Diman groundbreaking an echo of the past
Friday’s ceremony was a full-circle moment for people whose connections to Diman stretch back decades. They had a shovel on hand that was used by John Harrington, first superintendent of the regional school district, to break ground on the current building in 1963.
And, at least one person in attendance was also involved in construction of the current building. Gerry Murphy was lead construction superintendent for the building that opened in 1968, working for Wescott Construction. On Friday, he visited the school from Florida to accompany his daughter, Maureen Murphy, now the director of planning for Suffolk Construction and heavily involved with constructing the new building.
“I’m so happy to be back here,” said Gerry, who also worked on the nearby Fall River wastewater treatment plant.
Details about the project
The new Diman will be built on what is currently the school’s football field. One of the main criticisms of the current building is that it's far too small to hold the school's 1,450 students; the new, four-story building will increase the school’s square footage by more than 50%.
The Massachusetts School Building Authority has agreed to reimburse around 51% of the total cost for the nearly $300 million project.
Suffolk, the same general contractor that oversaw construction on the new B.M.C. Durfee High School, is heading up the Diman project.
The current Diman building has been in use for nearly 60 years, since 1968; school leaders say the new one should last another 60.
When will the new building open?
Construction is set to last for 30 months. They’re planning an official ribbon-cutting for the summer of 2026, with students set to start in the new building that September.
After the new school opens, work to demolish the old building will commence.
“We’re gonna get this done, we’re gonna have a new school and we will all be back again for the ribbon-cutting,” said Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan.
State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg speaks at the groundbreaking for the new Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School in Fall River Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. Photo by Colin Furze
Dignitaries and spectators during the groundbreaking for the new Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School in Fall River Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. Photo by Colin Furze
Dignitaries and spectators during the groundbreaking for the new Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School in Fall River Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. Photo by Colin Furze
Dignitaries and spectators during the groundbreaking for the new Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School in Fall River Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. Photo by Colin Furze
Superintendent Brian Bentley speaking at the groundbreaking for the new Dignitaries and spectators during the groundbreaking for the new Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School in Fall River Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. Photo by Colin Furze
Representatives Alan Silvia, Carole Fiola and Senator Michael Rodrigues at the groundbreaking for the new dignitaries and spectators during the groundbreaking for the new Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School in Fall River Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. Photo by Colin Furze
Officials prepare to break ground for the new Dignitaries and spectators during the groundbreaking for the new Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School in Fall River Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. Photo by Colin Furze
Maureen Murphy who was inspired by her dad, Gerry Murphy, to pursue a career in construction listens as he speaks about being project superintendent with Wescott Construction when the current school was built 55 years ago at the groundbreaking for Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School in Fall River Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. Photo by Colin Furze
