Cooperstown News Bureau

NEW BERLIN - More than 100 volunteer workers are helping Unadilla Valley Central School move from its buildings in the village of New Berlin and the hamlet of South New Berlin to the school's new campus on state Route 8.

Thanks to those volunteers, when school reconvenes Jan. 7, teachers and students will find themselves in a new, $37.8 million campus.

"We thought we'd get a lot of help, but this was even better than we'd anticipated," said Ronnie Wadsworth, director of the Unadilla Valley's Central School's Community School's program. "We've had as many as 125 people a day here, working since Friday," she said Monday.

"Students, teachers and members of the community all have pitched in and made this possible," she said.

Volunteers packed supplies in the school district's South New Berlin and New Berlin campuses and trucked them to the new school. There, boxes are being unloaded and materials put away in the facility, to be ready when school reopens.

"I've been impressed by the number of students who've volunteered,' said Wadsworth. "I think they're proud of the new building."

The move began Friday and continued over the weekend. By Monday, much of what needed to be transported was already in the new school, which is still under construction. While crews grouted tiled floors and installed ceiling tiles Monday, volunteers such as Karen Wheeler were putting supplies away in new offices and closets.

"I just thought, my kids have gone to this school and I still have a daughter in high school, so I should help out," Wheeler said.

One volunteer who has worked especially hard is Herb Whipple, Wadsworth said.

Whipple, 69, said he wanted to be part of the move.

"I don't live far from here, and I really wanted to see what was going on," he said Monday as he cut up and folded boxes that had moved books and other supplies to the school.

"I just said 'give me a job; I'll do whatever needs doing,'" he said.

Sixth-grader Crystal Anderson and her grandmother, Kathy Fairchild were among those who prepared sandwiches and other food for the volunteers.

"They asked for volunteers and we offered to help," said Fairchild.

"We made 35 sandwiches," said Crystal, who added that she was pitching in because it was something to do over the holiday vacation.

The new facility is quite large and students will need a while to adjust to it, she said.

Charles Stratton, superintendent of schools, said he was proud of the volunteer effort.

"We certainly moved a lot of material in a short time,' he said Monday.

High school guidance counselor Stephanie Cooke said she was happy to volunteer and be part of the growing excitement of occupying a modern school building.

District clerk and superintendent's secretary, Donna Taylor, said the construction manager for the project is Welliver McGuire of Endicott.

The school will have a new telephone system now and when school reopens. The main number will be 847-7500, Taylor said.