WORCESTER, Mass. - The city of Worcester gathered at the new South High Community School for a special day of ceremonies on Sunday.

Three separate ceremonies were held to commemorate the opening of South High, beginning with the naming of the entrance way to the school after Paul J. Moosey. Moosey was the city's former Commissioner of Public Works & Parks. He died last year. 

Local, state and federal leaders then gathered in the school's auditorium to celebrate the opening of the new building. The 360,000 square foot building cost $209 million and came in $8 million under budget. It opened to students this year.

City Manager Ed Augustus said this new facility can go toe to toe with any in the state.

"We can hold our head up high comparing ourselves to any suburban community in Massachusetts, the education facility the kids at South High School are getting, and they deserve it," Augustus said. "This really is a state-of-the-art facility to teach, to learn, to work, to play and boy did they get it right."

Another dedication was held for the school's auditorium which was named in memory of longtime school committee member Brian O'Connell, who died in 2019. O'Connell was on the committee for 36 years.​