Kittredge School Gets Some Breathing Room

The students of Kittredge Elementary School grew over the summer – and so did their school. The school is now 3,500 square feet larger, thanks to four modular buildings added to the premises in August.

"Class size and enrollment dictated the need," Superintendent Chris Hottel said. "Class sizes were larger than the district standard. We were using library and pull-out space for classrooms."

Three of the new modular buildings -- costing $550,000 -- are for new classrooms, and the fourth one houses the School Department's Community Programs office, which had been operating out of the superintendent's office at 1600 Osgood St.

"The schools in North Andover are a bit crowded, and this school was definitely very crowded," Principal Richard Cushing said. "We can actually feel it is less crowded now."

Kittredge has almost 300 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Last year, the school had some of the largest class sizes in the district, about 23 students per class and 26 students per class in its second and third grades.

The new modular additions are housing the school's three fifth grades. That clears up space for other things including an art class. Last year, teachers had to wheel around a cart from classroom to classroom with art supplies.

"Now, we have the ability to have a library, and we don't have 'art on a cart,'" Cushing said. "It really does expand the school. It's a lot more comfortable."

Hottel said he has gotten great feedback about the addition.

"Teachers, students and parents are very excited and happy," Hottel said. "The PTO reports that it's 'wonderful' having the necessary new space."

The modular buildings were constructed in Indiana and driven to North Andover by truck. Construction crews erected them at Kittredge last month. The modular expansions are completely connected to the school and have a normal foundation.