About 200 people turned out on Wednesday for the dedication of the newly renovated Oakview Elementary School in West Middlesex.

Construction began on the 40-year-old school in 2001. The $7.6 million project was completed Dec. 15. The district will pay a $465,000 mortgage payment each year until 2030.

"It's a costly project to the taxpayers, but we feel it's worthwhile for the educational programs of our school system," said West Middlesex Superintendent Albert J. Jones.

The project included 29,600 square feet of new space and 24,300 square feet of renovated space. Some of the improvements include 12 new classrooms, two computer labs, a new centrally located library, a new gymnasium/cafeteria with stage, new locker rooms and a new administrative suite.

Jones said the best improvement was a connecting hallway between the Oakview and Luther Lowe buildings that fosters better communication among the elementary staff and allows all elementary students to eat in one cafeteria.

Fourth grade students Jared Chupak, Krystal Coombs, Matt Formichella and Sonya Minner; fifth grader students Joey Bergin, Cole Emery, Joe Meiss and Kristina Thomas and sixth grader students Kyle Allen, Laura Habarka, Amanda Nelligan and Tyler Powell -- who were selected based on attendance, academic achievement and behavior -- lead the Pledge of Allegiance at the event.

Accepting the key to the newly refurbished building from Greer Hayden, architect for HHSDR Architects and Engineers, Sharon, were students Ashley David, Amanda Henning, Adam Shrawder and Mike Winters; teachers Cynthia Clarke, Melissa Gargasz and Michelle McBride; Parent Teacher Organization president Tracy Kirk and school board President Tom Hubert.

Ms. Clarke said she was a student at Oakview when the building first opened in the 1960s. "The changes I've seen have been astronomical," she said.

Hubert thanked everyone who was a part of the project, including the taxpayers.

Elementary Principal Dennis M. Messett suggested getting together for a big party in 2030 after paying the last installment of the mortgage.

Mercer County District Attorney James P. Epstein spoke to the crowd. "As district attorney, my daily work brings me into contact with people behaving at their worst, something that can skew your attitude toward the world," he said. "Coming to an event like this is an inoculation against cynicism."

Epstein said when it comes to crime prevention, most people think about police and the courts. "However, the most important crime prevention tool we have at our disposal is education," he said.