School Committee Backs East Middle School Grade Move

BRAINTREE, MA — The Braintree School Committee took another step forward Monday night in their effort to renovation of East Middle School.

The board voted to approve a grade change at the middle school, adding the fifth grade pending Massachusetts School Building Authority approval of the project and the development of a timeline for a transition plan no later than December.

If the project is approved and remains on schedule, the newly renovated school should be completed by the start of the 2021-22 school year.

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• East Middle School Renovation Tabbed at $69 Million
• Town Council Backs East Middle School Feasibility Study

The East Middle School renovation project is part of the school district’s plan to address the space crunch at the elementary and middle school levels. School officials are hoping to add 72 new learning spaces and add at least 20 classrooms to the current 28.

An update in December showed that the renovation would maintain a focus on creating two schools within a school. One ring would house 5th and 6th grade students, while the other one would be for 7th and 8th graders. A second cafeteria would be added on the other side of the kitchen.

The addition and renovation is tabbed at about $69 million, with the MSBA possibly offering to cover 50-58 percent of the costs.

Image: File Photo