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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
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