Addition Now Part of East Middle School Renovation Study

BRAINTREE, MA - If there is a feasibility study for the renovation ofEast Middle School, it will include a new addition for fifth graders.

Thursday night the Braintree School Committee voted to provide notice to the Mass. School Building Association of the Braintree Public Schools’ intent to increase the scope of the feasibility study and schematic design for the East Middle School renovation project. The plan will include a more extensive investigation that includes possible additional options, according to the motion passed by the committee.

Prior to the vote, committee member Tom Devin said the School Building Committee voted to endorse the expanded study.

The vote comes on the heels of recent interest from both the MSBA and school district with looking at adding new space to the middle school.

“I would just say this, I think the decision we’re making is of great value educationally. I think we are leveraging the MSBA in a positive fashion,” Mayor Joseph Sullivan said.

Committee member David Ringius said he would support the project, noting that his daughter, who is a student at the Hollis School, would be affected by a middle school addition.

“I think it’s a good plan that we have. Is it the perfect or best plan ever? Absolutely not. But I think it will open classrooms at the elementary schools,” Ringius said.

Devin echoed his colleague’s statement, noting that there was uncertainty during the discussion surrounding the Monatiquot School Kindergarten Center.

“I’m going to be supporting it because it is the right decision, but does that mean we have to work out some of the details to ensure the safety of our fifth graders? Yes it does,” Devin said.

Recently proposed by Superintendent Frank Hackett, the plan calls for an addition to be part of the middle school’s proposed renovation. If the addition is included with the renovation, the fifth graders will move to the middle school in what has been described as a “school within a school” as part of an effort to open more classrooms on the elementary level.

A similar plan for South Middle School has been discussed, along with possible school realignment. So far, nothing has been decided on both issues.

The Town Council will vote on the study’s funding at their Feb. 23 meeting and the MSBA will vote on whether to move on to the feasibility study phase at their March 30 meeting.