School Building Project Takes Next Steps

As the new year rings in school officials are hoping to reap the reward of their careful planning for a . They will know on January 25 when the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) announces their decision to either accept or deny North Reading's schematic design.

Acceptance comes with the state's commitment to fund approximately half of the total eligible costs the district's architectural firm has estimated. The current estimated cost is $105 million. 

In preparing the multiple documents making up the schematic design architects and school personnel solicited input from teachers and staff about the various elements of the academic programs. They systematically took into account all aspects of the challenges inherent in 21st century education.

According to Superintendent Kathleen Willis, meetings with the youth basketball league and other out reach meetings, such as one with the about traffic patterns have been held recently. No aspect of the and place in the community has been overlooked.

Willis has commented favorably on the truly collaborative approach the Secondary Schools Building Committee (SSBC), faculty, school administration, School Committee, Board of Selectmen, various town departments and citizens have taken. 

An example of this collective effort is demonstrated in the SSBC's careful analysis of the tax impact the project will have on residents. Selectman and SSBC member Sean Delaney will present those findings to the community.

In a similar way resident Geof Simons, a veteran chairperson for previous school building projects, has been named chair of the committee promoting the passage of the ballot question on the town's funding of the project. Town Meeting members will be the first to vote on the funding. Passage requires two thirds in favor. Their vote will be closely followed by a town-wide vote needing a simple majority for approval. Both votes are tentatively planned for March 2012.

In the event that the proposal does not pass a subcommittee of the SSBC will discuss capital improvements to the and schools.

Wayne Hardacker, middle school Principal Cathleen O'Connor, Carl Nelson, OPM Chris Simmlar and Superintendent Willis walked the site at the rear of the middle school to determine the relocation of modular classrooms should the project be approved. The modulars would be relocated at the start of the 2012-2013 school year.

According to SSBC member Janene Imbriano, “This has been a long awaited project and we are happy that it is moving along so smoothly. PMA and Dore & Whittier continue to work diligently on our project and have been extremely helpful in this building process.”

Attend a meeting in January to learn more about the project:

January 10-

January 18-

January 25-announcement of the MSBA board of directors to approve the building's schematic design and set forth the funding agreement or to decline the proposal.