SPRINGFIELD — As she looked out onto the construction sight where the new Brightwood-Lincoln Elementary School will be housed, Juana Girona had a big smile on her face.

“Our children are finally getting what they deserve,” said Girona, a longtime resident of the North End neighborhood of Springfield where an $82 million project will replace two aging elementary schools. “We needed this and it’s been a long time coming. I’m thankful to the state and the city and everyone who heard our voices and made this possible."

A groundbreaking ceremony for the two new schools which will be housed in separate wings of the same building was held Thursday. Nearly $50 million for the project will come from the Massachusetts School Building Authority, not all costs are eligible for reimbursement.

“Brightwood was built in the 1800s and so it’s exciting to put these two schools together. We wanted to make sure Brightwood remained in the community and Lincoln is in need of serious renovations, so when everyone agreed to re-purpose the Roberto Clemente fields into this beautiful new building we were thrilled,” said Assistant Superintendent of Schools Lydia Martinez.

Construction is already underway and the building is expected to be completed withing the next two years, according to Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno.

He described the project as a collaboration between the city and the state, in particular the MSBA.

“It’s about building relationships and our relationship with the MSBA has allowed us to put forward $616 million of new schools and renovated schools here in the city of Springfield — the most in the commonwealth of Massachusetts,” he said.

Jack McCarthy, executive director of the MSBA, pitched the concept of putting two schools in one building and Brightwood and Lincoln were a natural fit, the mayor said.

Sarno also announced another upcoming joint project.

“It was like a poker game. I said, ‘I have another school built in the 1890s, Homer Street School and another one DeBerry which is failing. If I do Brightwood and Lincoln how about you give me Homer/ DeBerry?,’" the mayor recalled. "Long story short that is going to occur too and that is because of the relationship we have built with the MSBA.”

Springfield School Committee Ward 1 Member Maria Perez was not able to attend the event, but was credited with working with the community to make sure their voices were heard as the project moved forward.

“This is something that has been needed for a very long time and this groundbreaking is not only a celebration for the School Department, but for the community as well, because they fought for this,” Perez said in a phone interview.

State Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, D-Springfield, said he remembers when the site was a junkyard.

“I was an aide to the mayor when we turned this property from a junkyard to a playground and now into a school with $50 million from the state,” he said. " These are the greatest days for me as a representative."

Superintendent of Schools Daniel Warwick said it’s important to note that while this is a major project and a great addition to the schools, there is maintenance being done on existing buildings every day.

“Everyone notices the new building projects like Dryden or Putnam or Forest Park, but during that time we have also had 25 accelerated repair projects with MSBA,” he said. “Those are important too because our average building is 55 years old. So you can put your new projects in, but if you don’t repair the buildings you already have then they are going to deteriorate.”

Norman Roldan, chairman of the Springfield School Building Commission, grew up in the North End and remembers going to dilapidated schools as a kid.

“I remember how tough it was. It wasn’t the school (building) that made the school, it was really the teachers and the students, but the foundation is important because without it it’s hard to get a good education,” Roldan said. “Our community has been very vocal about conditions at the schools because they are concerned about the kids and they have been fully behind this project. This is a home run for the city and for the neighborhood.”