The sun was shining and children were singing on Friday, September 21, 2012, as city leaders, School Board members, the Superintendent, NPS staff, students, parents and community members gathered to officially dedicate Crossroads School.

Crossroads is the city's newest school building and community center. It is a facility built to serve children from pre-kindergarten through grade 8.

"The new Crossroads really is an incredible facility," said Mayor Paul D. Fraim. "It used to be schools were open only during school hours and for school-related functions. Today, families also value them as an asset that can be put to other productive use in the community. Crossroads is a good example of that trend."

School Board Chairman Kirk T. Houston, Sr., thanked all the members of the community - students, parents, city leaders, fellow Board members, staff - who provided the inspiration, dedication and support to make the new building happen.

"Every brick of this building, every nail, every inch belongs to someone standing here," Dr. Houston told the crowd. "We are thankful to all of you for this achievement."

Crossroads will be a model for the type of state-of-the-art facility the School Board will strive for when turning its attentions next to new elementary schools at Campostella, the Broad Creek area, Larchmont and Ocean View, Dr. Houston said.

Superintendent Samuel T. King pointed out Crossroads' 49 classrooms, four computer labs, three science labs, two gymnasiums, two art rooms and two music rooms, as well as the environmental advancements that make it a LEED-certified building, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

"All of these new features are exciting and wonderful," Dr. King said, "however we will never lose sight of the fact that the heart and soul of this building are the bright children, the dedicated staff members and the strong, supportive families we have standing before us today."

Deputy Superintendent for Operations and School Leadership Development Dr. L'Tanya Simmons delivered gifts - Crossroads student art depicting their new school - to NPS Senior Director of Planning Mr. John Hazelette, contractor Robert H. McKenzie Jr. of McKenzie Construction Corporation, and architect Jack Hasten of Moseley Architects. Mr. McKenzie and Mr. Hasten presented to Dr. King, Dr. Simmons and Principal Mary Beers a ceremonial key to the building.