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Needham Public SchoolsNeedham Public SchoolsSpace and Program PlanningSpace and Program Planning

Task Force ReportTask Force Report

March 1, 2005

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Space and Program Planning Task Force Members

Stephen Theall Robert Abbey

Joseph Barnes Marianne Cooley

Dawn Dow David Harris

George Johnson Julia Lipman

Louise Miller Diane Panich

Karen Price Jennifer Ramras

Anne Whittredge

Bess Lavoie, recording secretary

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The projected enrollments at the Newman, Mitchell, Broadmeadow and Pollard are now or will soon be in excess of capacity.

Problem

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ElementaryClassroom Needs

04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10

Broadmeadow 0 0 -2 -2 -3 -3

Mitchell 0 -1 -1 -2 -2 -2

Newman 0 0 -2 -3 -3 -3

Hillside 0 0 0 -1 -1 -1

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Middle School Enrollment Projections

Pollard

04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11

1070 1101 1090 1108 1154 1207 1296

Capacity = 982 with modulars

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Site Considerations and Assumptions

1. High Rock School can be used fairly soon (fall of 2006) for school programs. Questions with regard to disabilities accessibility were not addressed, but there was consensus that this would need to be done before any decisions are made.

2. The High Rock site can accommodate a 600 student middle school, as determined by the Middle School Feasibility Study. It is unlikely a 900 student school can be placed at High Rock.

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Site Considerations and Assumptions (continued)

3. A 900 student school might be built on the Nike site. A feasibility study would be required.

4. A 900 student school might be built on the Department of Public Works (DPW) site. A feasibility study would be required.

5. Both Hillside and Mitchell School can be expanded to 500-550 students. Feasibility studies would be

required.

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Short Term SolutionsSeptember 2005 - June 2007

Pollard Continued strain on common spaces

Broadmeadow Relocate SPED within building

Relocate KASE (2006/2007)

outside the building

Newman Relocate KASE outside the building beginning September ‘05

Continue general music on a cart for some classes

Mitchell General music instruction on a cartbeginning September ‘05

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Solutions Considered and

Rejected

• Double session at Pollard

• Extended/differentiated day at Pollard

• Year-round school

• Rental space

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Solutions Considered within the Existing Buildings

• Combining classroom spaces and electives on a cart

• Increase class size

• Redistricting

• Multi-grade classrooms

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Solutions Using Modular Classrooms

Mitchell Add three modulars (six classrooms) and expand capacity through redistricting

Hillside Add one modular (two classrooms) to partially alleviate overcrowding at Newman through spot redistricting

Pollard Add four to six modulars (eight to twelve classrooms). This solution would further exacerbate overcrowding in

common spaces

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Short Term Solutions withHigh Rock School

• Preschool

• KASE Center

• Kindergarten and KASE Center

• Broadmeadow/Newman Grade 5 Center

• Two Sixth Grade Clusters

• Broadmeadow/Newman 5/6 Grade Center

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Long Term Solutions

• Grades 6-8 middle school at High Rock

• Grades 5-8 middle school

Nike site

High Rock

DPW

• Convert Newman to middle school

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Long Term Solutions(continued)

• Sixth elementary school at High Rock

• K-8 school at High Rock

–Kindergarten and Early Childhood Center at High Rock

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Conclusions/Recommendations

• Two 5-8 middle schools solve the following problems:– Overcrowding at Pollard– Overcrowding at elementary schools– Location of school administration

• Investigate possibility of using High Rock to temporarily and partially lessen overcrowding at Broadmeadow, Newman, and Pollard– meet with Commission on Disabilities

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Conclusions/Recommendations(continued)

• Promote Townwide Facilities Feasibility Study which includes:

Renovation of Town Hall

Relocation of DPW

Location and Construction of second middle school

Location of school administration

Mitchell and Hillside renovation

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Conclusions/Recommendations(continued)

• Charge reconstituted task force to analyze efficacy of changing grade level structure to K-4 and 5-8

–Report back to School Committee by September 2005

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Anticipated Timeline for Construction of a New Middle School

May 2005 - Fund Townwide Feasibility Study

May 2006 - Appropriate design funds

July 2007 - Submit application to MSBA

April 2008 - Ballot Question: Fund construction of new middle school

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Anticipated Timeline for Construction of a New Middle School

(continued)

May 2008 - Authorize funding for

construction

November 2008 - Construction begins

September 2010 - New middle school opens