Braintree High School Renovation In The Works

BRAINTREE, MA — One of the early steps in the Braintree High School renovation process was approved by town officials this week.

The school committee and town council signed off on a statement of interest to be submitted to the Massachusetts School Building Authority. Frank Hackett, the superintendent of schools, told the town council Tuesday that it’s time to upgrade the 46-year-old building.

“The building itself is tired but it’s filled with great teachers, great staff, great students, and great parents,” Hackett wrote.

In the school’s current state, school officials have been unable to implement a STEAM curriculum. In addition, obsolete vocational spaces are no longer used, the science labs are outdated, there are no technology and engineering classrooms, and the classroom layouts need work.

The 131 classrooms include a room designed for teaching electronics in 1972 being used for a special education program and a home economics class serving as a health and art classroom, according to the statement. Most classrooms only have two electrical outlets, much lower than most class need.

If approved, the process will move into a feasibility study phase where the school district will be required to study several plans including renovating the school, building new, and options in between.

Hackett says he expects a competitive submission period, telling the town council that the MSBA could receive 80 to 100 statements of interest.

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