LISBON – More than 3,000 people turned out Saturday in sweltering heat for a ribbon-cutting and tour of the new state-of-the-art Lisbon Community School, which is set to open for classes Wednesday.

“We expected about 1,000, and more than 3,000 came,” said Monica Millhime, event coordinator, who commended sixth-graders who acted as tour guides. “They represented the school and community so well, beyond expectations,” as did the many volunteers who “gave 150 percent,” she said.

Superintendent Shannon Welsh welcomed the group and introduced state and local dignitaries who spoke, including James W. Carignan, chairman of the Maine State Board of Education; Susan A. Gendron, state commissioner of education; Elaine Clark, director of the Bureau of General Services. Other officials attending included Selectman Scott D’Amboise; State Rep. Robert A. Berube, R-Lisbon; Harold Moran, chairman of the School Committee, who also had the honor of cutting the ribbon; and Carlene Iverson, Lisbon Community School principal.

Stirring renditions of the Star-Spangled Banner and God Bless America by soloist Mitchel Clyde Thomas drew accolades. Music arrangements during the event were by Jonathan Carsley.

Visitors were visibly impressed with the new K-6 school, some comparing it to a college campus.

The sprawling brick building, surrounded by lawns, two playgrounds and spacious parking lots, has three floors containing 38 homerooms with 17-20 students in each room. Currently, the school houses 725 students and 110 staff members. There are also special rooms for gifted and talented, OT/PT, Title I and tutoring, a nurse’s office and administrative offices.

The front entry features a nostalgic bell that came from the old Lisbon Falls High School, later used as a grammar school and now as the superintendent’s office, on Campus Avenue, The bell, which hangs in a specially designed tower was rung at the beginning of ceremonies.

All classrooms have their own bathrooms for privacy and safety of students; student “cubbies” in each room instead of lockers in hallways; and classrooms that are expandable with moving walls.

School Resource Officer Darin Estes, who teaches a variety of classes on student safety, has his own office and will be available at lunch and recess to “connect” with students informally.

Other features include a conference room, a gymnasium, complete with showers, that can accommodate 900 people. There is also, a fully automated library, with more than 15,000 books for reference, information and literature, as well as books on tape, CDs and videos. The library also has 10 computers with Internet connections, student reference center and a reading pit.

Other features of the new school include:

*Comupter lab with 24 computers fully loaded with the latest programs.

*Media room for audiovisual needs.

*Discovery room offering students the ability to see, smell, taste or touch learning activities,

*Cafetorium, serving dual purposes – serving breakfast and lunch to students during the school day and as an auditorium for special events.

*Two music rooms and two art rooms.

*Kindergarten wing with six classrooms with a fenced-in playground off that wing designated for K-2 only, fenced in for safety purposes.

The $12.8 million school on Mill Street will replace Lisbon Elementary School in Lisbon, and Marion T. Morse School and Lisbon Falls, housing all students from those schools and the sixth grade from Sugg Middle School.

For those unable to attend on Saturday, pupils will conduct additional tours on Monday from 10 a.m. through 3 p.m.