Indian River High School gets dedicated

By Sam Harvey
Staff Reporter

	Coastal Point • SAM HARVEY Mark Marvel, left, and Erica Evans sing during the Indian River dedication ceremony.

District Superintendent Lois Hobbs emceed, welcoming Sen. George Howard Bunting (20th District), Rep. John Atkins (41st District), Lew Atkinson from the Delaware Department of Education, Ted Dwyer and Hughie McBride (EDiS) and representatives from Frankford Town Council, among others.

Following a crisp presentation of colors by Ret. Maj. Frank Ryman’s JROTC squad, Indian River Band Director Mark Marvel’s high school/alumni quintet took the spotlight.

Marvel said Principal Mark Steele had requested “Be True To Your School,” by the Beach Boys. Although he hadn’t known the tune, he said he and Steele went way back — Marvel suggested he’d thrown it together last minute, but delivered a solid performance (with Erica Evans on backup vocals, Greg Reynolds on backup and bass, Tim Berzins on drums, and now-college freshman Eric Tsavdar on keys).

Hobbs thanked board members for toughing it out through a sometimes bumpy construction project, especially Building and Grounds Committee Chair Greg Hastings, and the architects, construction managers and staff for making the September opening date a reality.

Bunting said a few words, reflecting on how the world had changed since the era of his mother’s youth — she and her classmates actually rode ponies to school, he pointed out, and things like indoor plumbing and electric heat were by no means commonplace.

Bunting recognized Ryman and all the Indian River graduates who’d gone on to serve in the military. “We certainly thank them,” he said.

He noted recent groundbreaking at the new Veterans Home, and said he’d attended 42 meetings before that finally took place — and he expected another 42 before it was complete. “Projects like these — there’s a lot that goes into them,” Bunting said. He recognized architect Brad Hastings, and the IRSD’s Jay Headman and Greg Weer especially.

School Board President Charles Bireley thanked a few people as well, but first and foremost all the voters, for supporting the district through referendum after referendum (and he wasn’t alone in doing so).

Bireley characterized Indian River High School as the centerpoint of the community. “We survived a monsoon season and cost overruns, and I’m sure there are many people here tonight who are as proud of this school as we are.”