Higgins Middle School Renovation Project Could Influence McCarthy School's Future

As the project feasibility study gets underway, the 's future existence has yet to be decided.

School Committee member Beverly Dunne, who is also on the Higgins Middle School Building Committee, said although one does not dictate the fate of the other, before making any decision she would like to have all the variables.

As the Higgins feasibility study moves forward, Dunne informed the School Committee that DiNisco Design Partnership would like to have all possible scenarios in front of them so they can do a complete cost analysis on all options. Although the feasibility study will not be completed this fall, the design firm needs to understand the space needs and budgetary needs to move forward.

All options from phasing the project to moving one to two grades out a time will be considered and thought through based financial and space constraints.

Using the McCarthy School, if closed, as a swing space for students from the Higgins Middle School during the renovation process could be one of the cost analysis options that will be considered. However, Dunne said, cost analysis will also be done of phasing students throughout and possibly renting space if needed.

During an interview, School Committee member Ed Charest, who is also chairman of the board's school planning committee, said the because there are so many unanswered questions surrounding the Higgins project, the planning committee cannot move forward.

Before a decision is made to close a school it is important to have all the information, whether it would be used as a swing school, what the financial cost would be, how it would affect a new project, he added.  

“It is such a big step no on wants to do it lightly, we want to make sure we have all the information,” Charest said. “I applaud them for not making a decision without all the information or before going forward.”

During Tuesday night's School Committee, Dunne saidthe Higgins Middle School project should not be figured into next year's budget. She said the committee needs to begin conversations on what to do for feasibility purposes.   

Peabody Public Schools Superintendent Dr. C. Milton Burnett said DiNisco Design is tentatively scheduled to attend the next School Committee meeting on May 10. The design firm will be giving an information presentation on the project thus far.