Cooperative Middle School’s $17.8 Million Expansion Unveiled

Press release from Cooperative Middle School:

Oct. 12, 2021

In a ribbon cutting ceremony today and ahead of the project schedule, Cooperative Middle School (CMS) unveiled significant enhancements to the school. The $17.8 million investment fulfills the overdue need for additional learning space, makes more functional use out of some current spaces and relieves overcrowding throughout the school with more than 60,000 square feet of renovated space.

Speaking at the ribbon cutting ceremony was Jennifer Wheeler, Executive Director of the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce, Paul Bauer, Vice Chair of the Exeter Region Cooperative School Board, Dr. David Ryan, Superintendent of SAU 16 and Eris Hersey, Interim Principal at CMS. The event included students, administrators, community members and tour of the new school.

“We are so excited to have the space needed for our middle schoolers to learn and thrive,” said Dr. David Ryan, SAU 16 Superintendent. “We appreciate the support of this project from our school board and the community for the much-needed expansion that will allow us to enhance the teaching and learning environment for our children.”

This project was approved by the Exeter Region Cooperative School Board in 2019 to increase the number of educational areas, expand and reconfigure the cafeteria, add additional office space and physical education space and add an additional elevator. The expansion added 38,000 square feet to the school while also renovating 22,200 square feet of existing space.

The additional learning space at CMS has been needed for years as learning techniques and education programs have changed over time. Students are grouped into 12 teams (four per grade), but prior to the expansion there was only enough room for 10 of the 12 teams. As a result of this project, two new pods and 10 classrooms were added to the second floor of the school enabling each team to have its own area. Each pod is made up of five classrooms and a common area with lockers, office space, a conference room and group meeting space in the middle. Additional areas have been created for teacher and administrative offices and properly equipped spaces for special education services such as a resource room, behavioral room and specialized bathroom stations for students with mobility issues.

Another area of benefit from construction is the new 6,900 square foot state-of-the-art cafeteria, with a new kitchen, which has been expanded to include a 4,200 square foot outdoor patio for lunch and study groups. Unlike in years past, an entire grade can now have lunch together in a newly furnished area that focuses on allowing students to interact with each other and create a community-like atmosphere.

"The project has afforded every student to have a ‘home base’,” said Eris Hersey, CMS Interim Principal. “School is a second home for students, and everyone should have a designated area where they feel safe and have a sense of belonging. In addition, the students absolutely love the new cafeteria where we can effectively serve meals to the entire grade level of children and have lunch periods all around noon. We are beyond proud of the additional amenities and feel tremendously grateful to the six communities for making this project a reality."

Prior to construction, CMS had one small physical education room that forced some programs to utilize hallway space causing overcrowding in the halls. Through this project, a new gymnasium foyer was built to allow for more room and multiple sports at one time while upgrading the locker room facilities including showers and bathrooms.

“I am overjoyed that this project is completed and that the students and staff are enjoying the spaces that have been built for student instruction, the new cafeteria that really revitalizes how we can do our lunch scheduling and the two new pods that allow every team of students to have their own space,” said Paul Bauer, Exeter Region Cooperative School Board Vice Chair. “We are so grateful to the Renewal Committee for all of their hard work and of course to the community members and voters who supported this project and helped us see it through.”

As of October, all major construction has been completed in advance of the original November schedule. Construction took just over a year to complete, starting in June 2020. Harvey Construction in Bedford did the build while architecture and engineering firm Harriman, based in Maine, oversaw the design.

Cooperative Middle School, part of SAU 16, in Stratham, New Hampshire was originally built in 1998 and is home to sixth, seventh and eighth grade students from Brentwood, Exeter, East Kingston, Kensington, Newfields and Stratham.

This press release was produced by Cooperative Middle School. The views expressed here are the author's own.