Newman's Modular Classrooms Moving Out

Today, just two days after school closed for the summer, crews will be getting to work taking down the at following the building’s recent renovation.

“Newman will be closed as of midnight tonight,” Needham Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Dan Gutekanst said at the School Committee meeting Tuesday, June 19. “The campus will be closed and the offices will be closed until July 9.”

Newman parents who need to reach the building principals can contact them at , Gutekanst said.

The Newman staff was busy up until 10 p.m. the last day of school, June 19, packing up their classrooms and offices. The quick job was completed with the help of many volunteers, including the staff at .

On Monday, June 18, about a dozen staff members from the YMCA ran various stations on teamwork, health and wellness and other topics for the kids at Newman Elementary School, giving the school employees time to focus on packing, Gutekanst said. Parent volunteers have also contributed numerous hours of their time helping the Newman staff pack for the “home-going” move.

At the meeting Tuesday, the superintendent also thanked the Needham and the for being so flexible with parking limitations in the area throughout the renovation process.

Crews from Consigli Construction Co., the company that designed and installed the modular classrooms, will be working over the next week or so to remove the units from the Newman property.

The newly remodeled Newman school building is expected to be ready for teachers to begin setting up their classrooms for the 2012-13 school year by Aug. 20.

In addition, a strong is underway to replace the playground at Newman, and Gutekanst said it was likely that the equipment would be in place by the end of September at the latest.

The school will be planning an open house prior to the start of school this fall—a chance for families to get a good look at the updated building before classes begin.

In addition, the school plans to host a “Newman Homecoming” event in the fall—a community-wide celebration that invites citizens, Newman alumni, former staff and current Newman families to come together to mark the school’s next chapter.

Details and specific dates for the open house and homecoming events will be available later this summer.