An important local milestone was reached on Aug. 27 when the first public kindergarten in town history debuted before a crowd of enthusiastic children and parents.

“Auburn has waited so long, and I think it’s just a wonderful thing to finally have kindergarten here,” said local mother Heather Graves, whose 5-year-old daughter Caitrin is among the more than 40 students registered for the Auburn Village School’s first kindergarten.

“They’ve done a great job putting everything together and I think they’re just going to have a great year.”

More than 70 people were at the afternoon ceremony to hear new Principal Ron Pedro announce that the kindergarten was “officially open” after only a few months of work by contractor Pidella Construction. The two kindergarten rooms had originally been an industrial arts area for older students, but all traces of that former room seemed to have vanished beneath a new floor and fresh paint.

“This is an exciting day, isn’t it?” said Pedro to the crowd of parents, prospective students and their siblings. “I just came in, and I get to start the first kindergarten. I feel very, very lucky.”

Following his brief speech, Superintendent Dr. Charles “Phil” Littlefield announced that the kindergarten is “a wonderful opportunity” for some of the youngest students in his district, noting that the kindergarten has been an issue that Auburn has been struggling with for years. Previously, Auburn was one of about 10 school districts in the nation that did not offer public kindergarten, and as of today, Milford and several other New Hampshire school districts still do not have kindergarten.

After the ribbon-cutting, parents introduced themselves to Pedro and kindergarten teachers Cheryl Kaake and Melissa Tanguay while some of the incoming kindergarten students took the opportunity to get more acquainted with the classroom that they’ll be spending many days in over the next nine months. For the most part, the historical significance of being part of the town’s first-ever kindergarten class was lost on the 4- and 5-year-olds, who were much more interested in the classroom toys and books.

“It’s good. I like the puppet show the best,” said 4-year-old Ian Algozzine.

Officials and residents both expressed thanks to town voters, who approved the $382,833 renovation project to create the kindergarten by a 4-1 margin in March. Ultimately, the project wound up costing local voters slightly under $100,000 after the district was given a state aid package of $287,125.

School Board members also received praise, and Littlefield hailed board Chairman Elaine Hobbs as “a warrior” for the project which finally brought kindergarten to the last School Administration Unit 15 town which did not offer it. The opening day event was also a personal one for board member Cathi Porter, whose own daughter Katherine is among the kindergarten’s first students.

“I couldn’t make kindergarten happen for my older (children), and I think this kindergarten is a real blessing,” she said.

School officials said the kindergarten was scheduled to begin on Sept. 2, and as of Aug. 27 some 42 students were registered.