When students returned to Arlington Elementary School this fall, their library was still out of commission due to serious water leakage issues and resulting odor and mold.

Thanks to community partners, including the New England Laborers’/Cranston Public Schools Construction Career Academy, all that changed on Wednesday, Dec. 16.

“We have opened a beautiful new library at Arlington School and we have all of these wonderful people who helped make it the most beautiful and wonderful library anywhere,” said Principal Michelle David, who wore a T-shirt that read, “get hooked on reading.”

Around her, dignitaries from the city and school department filled the multi-purpose room along with Arlington students and faculty.

A Title 1 school, Arlington has one of the highest ESL and poverty rates in the city. Last year, when the health concerns in the Arlington library came to light, School Committee representative Paula McFarland advocated for help, stating that the families just wanted to have the same opportunities as those at other schools in Cranston.

“We had to rely on some of our school partners to help us get this library ready,” David said.

The library is painted yellow, which David attributed to the Cranston Area Career and Technical Center.

“William Carcieri and some of the boys from the CACTC added a little bit of sunshine to our library. They painted it a beautiful yellow color and the sun’s going to shine in there forever,” she said.

It was representatives at NEL/CPS that really spearheaded the Arlington project, however. At a Sept. 8 board meeting, the school decided to enter into a partnership with the elementary school.

“Christmas is a time of giving to each other, and that’s why we’re here today, to give back to the Arlington School community,” said Board Chairman and School Committee Chairman Michael Traficante. “We have decided that we are adopting Arlington Elementary School for now and for the future.”

He and Dr. Michael Silvia from the Board brought forth a check written out to Arlington Elementary School for a generous $13,715.

“Mrs. David can use this money any way necessary to buy anything needed for this library; text books, books, periodicals,” Traficante said. “So God Bless, good luck and happy holidays.”

An emotional David accepted the check and made another announcement.

“We’ll also be working with the Cranston Family Center to open the library after school hours beginning in January for after-hours computer help and homework help,” she said, eliciting cheers from the audience.

The next announcement by David turned the room somber, as she recalled the tragic death of Arlington kindergartener Marco Nieves this past fall.

“We have dedicated a library nook to Marco, and when you have the opportunity to go through the library you’ll get to see a piece of artwork that Marco left as well as two beanbag chairs,” she said.

Jeanine Walker, president of Arlington’s parent organization, announced that they had also purchased a star in Marco’s honor.

“Marco will forever be an Arlington All-Star,” said Walker, referring to the school’s slogan.

Walker later noted that it was important for the parent group to show their concern for the Nieves family and that even though he was only at Arlington for a short time, he had an impact on the school.

“It’s very difficult to explain [his death] to the kids who knew him. This is a way for them to communicate with him,” she said.

Cranston Superintendent Peter Nero toured the facility with the other dignitaries following the morning assembly, and said he was thrilled that the project came to fruition.

“This probably went from being the worst library in the city to being the best elementary library in the city, and it’s been long overdue,” Nero said. “What we’ve learned in the last several years is that it takes a village. School Committee member Paula McFarland worked tirelessly on this and for that we are extremely grateful.”

Arlington’s school librarian, Beth Grabbert, who had previously been visiting students in their individual classrooms, was pleased to see students touring the space that week.

“They were beyond excited and they deserve it,” she said. “They’ve been without a library for an awfully long time. Next week we’ll start checking out books and they’ll all have a book out for school vacation.”