Melrose Completes Major Summer Renovation Throughout Public Schools

MELROSE, MA — The city completed a series of renovation, repair, and improvement projects at public school buildings over the summer, including long-deferred bathroom renovations, accessibility upgrades, and structural work.

The Melrose Department of Public Works recently provided an update on the work completed during summer vacation, much of which was funded through the $13.5 million Proposition 2 1/2 override approved by voters last November. The override was approved by a vote of 6,018 to 5,052 and was designed in part to fund school needs, public works positions and repairs to city buildings, roads and sidewalks.

One of the largest projects involved the first phase of an approximately $2 million renovation of the original bathrooms at Melrose High School, which dated back to the 1970s. The city worked with Massey Construction and architects from Gienapp to replace 11 bathrooms and add two new bathrooms near the high school cafeteria.

The work involved full renovations of each bathroom, including new floors, walls, partitions, doors, plumbing fixtures, and paint. The project is being funded through override revenue included in the Fiscal Year 2026 supplemental budget and is expected to be completed with a second phase next summer.

The city also completed sidewalk work outside Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School as officials continue to investigate building settling at the property. Public Works worked with D&R Paving to replace all of the concrete sidewalks outside the school in an effort to address tripping hazards and accessibility concerns. Structural and geotechnical engineers are continuing to evaluate the cause of the settling, while future repairs to the school's access road are being planned.

Multiple accessibility projects at the Winthrop, Hoover and Horace Mann schools were also finished over the summer. The work included automatic push-button door openers at all three schools, a compliant railing along an exterior ramp at Horace Mann and a stage lift in the school's All Purpose Room.

Those improvements were funded through a $171,800 Massachusetts Office on Disability grant awarded to Melrose earlier this year. The projects were identified through the city's ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan completed in January 2023. All three schools are more than 50 years old, with the Winthrop School dating back to 1926. (Patch)

Other work across the district included inspections and maintenance of fire alarms, suppression systems, and extinguishers, as well as elevator and kitchen or laboratory hood inspections at several schools. Steam trap testing was conducted at the Franklin, Hoover, Horace Mann, and Winthrop schools, with National Grid funding nearly all repairs identified through the testing.

Asbestos removal was also completed at the Franklin, Winthrop, Horace Mann and Hoover schools following the district's triennial Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act testing this past spring. The city said all areas identified as high priorities during the testing were addressed by outside contractor KN Environmental.

Public Works employees additionally evaluated sinks throughout the district to ensure working soap and paper towel dispensers were available, while crews completed landscaping, tree trimming, and repairs to bike racks, fences and playground equipment before students returned to school. Tennis courts at Tremont and Crystal streets were refinished, and irrigation repairs were completed at multiple athletic fields, including a full replacement of the irrigation system at West Knoll.

The summer work comes as Melrose continues its first comprehensive district-wide School Facilities Master Plan in nearly 30 years. The study is evaluating conditions and educational needs across all eight public schools in an effort to develop a long-term strategy for the district's facilities.

The projects also represent some of the first larger school and facilities investments made possible by the override. Approximately $3.8 million in override funding was designated for Melrose Public Schools in the Fiscal Year 2027 budget process, while the measure also restored 17 school positions and additional Public Works staffing. The city said having nearly full seasonal and full-time facilities and custodial staffing helped allow many of this summer's projects to be completed by city employees.

The city has also sought outside funding for school facility improvements. Earlier this year, Melrose received $250,000 in federal funding to replace faulty and outdated public address and bell systems at the Middle School and multiple elementary schools.

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