Years of anticipation for students and faculty members of Bishop Seabury Academy will finally be put to rest when the 2003-2004 school year begins.

Bishop Seabury Academy, 1411 E. 1850 Road, will move to the renovated Alvamar Racquet and Swim Club, 4120 Clinton Parkway.

“It’s something that’s been building up and building up and now we are actually going to have full facilities,” Seabury sophomore Laura Frizell said. “I look forward to the full-size gym where we’ll get to do athletics and have plays.”

The decision to acquire the 8.1-acre property and convert it to a new campus came in December 2001 when the academy’s trustees launched a fund-raising campaign that generated $2.85 million. The following May, the trustees entered into a formal agreement to buy the property.

Construction began in fall 2002 with slight changes to the original design. Officials decided to eliminate the second floor because the extra materials needed to construct the support system for the second level would have pushed the renovation over its $4 million budget. Other changes have been made to the external appearance of the campus.

“We hope to be in a much larger and more modern facility that is more appropriate for high school students,” Seabury headmaster Chris Carter said. “The new facility will also be more accessible for our families.”

Many students will be able to walk to school at the new campus. Other families of students will not have such a long drive to get to the school. Some students said it took almost 30 minutes to get to school in the mornings, making the new location desirable to a majority of Bishop Seabury families.

The new campus includes 13 classrooms, a computer lab and a full-size gymnasium. Carter said the move would allow for future renovations and expansions.

Chris Lange, of lynn electric, checks plans for the new Bishop Seabury Academy site at the former Alvamar Racquet and Swim Club, 4120 Clinton Parkway.

“We are really excited,” said Tracy Kitson, Seabury math teacher. “Hopefully it will be a huge improvement. Right now, we are really low par.”

The academy’s enrollment for 2002-2003 was 100 students. Kitson believed the new location would help raise enrollment numbers.

“It will give us more exposure so that people can get to know who Bishop Seabury is and what we’re all about,” she said.

Students seemed anxious to move to the new campus for a variety of reasons.

“It’s exciting,” seventh-grader Erik Ahlen said. “It’s been delayed so long. I can’t wait for the regular size gym and a soccer field. Oh yeah, and better bathrooms.”

“I think it (the move) will bring a lot of new students,” ninth-grader Katie George said. “I’m excited for the new gym and floor. It’s a nice floor with padding, not just concrete like we have now. We’ll also have plenty of room for lots of programs.”

“I can’t wait to have more space,” said Jake Esau, Seabury sophomore and yearbook editor. “Here we lack space, and there the J-crew (journalism class) will get more space. I’m excited about the new, faster network and new stuff.”