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Modular Classrooms

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Five Things You Missed at School Committee: New Principal Search, Security Measures

Newton Public School administrators also offered updates on the various facilities projects happening around the district, including expansion at F.A. Day Middle School and proposed modular classrooms.

During Monday night's School Committee meeting, committee members voted in favor of a plan that would send all students from Cabot Elementary to F.A. Day Middle School, rather than splitting students between F.A. Day and Bigelow Middle when they reach sixth grade. Here are five other things you may have missed from the meeting:   1. A busy season for principal searches During his update for the School Committee, Superintendent David Fleishman informed the committee that the district is taking on a third principal search this season, as Countryside Elementary Principal Emily Ostrower announced last week she plans to retire at the end of this school year. Ostrower has been at Countryside for a decade, Fleishman said, and has hired much of …

In this Article:

Newton School Committee Approves Measure to Send All Cabot Elementary Students to F.A. Day Middle, Countryside Elementary School, Lincoln-Eliot Elementary School, and 9 more ›

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Newton School Committee Moves Forward with Plan for 7 Modular Classrooms

The seven classrooms are proposed for four different elementary schools in the district.

With the goal of giving the district more space by September 2013, the Newton School Committee Monday night approved $350,000 to be spent on feasibility studies and designs for seven modular classrooms at four elementary schools. School officials have proposed modular classrooms for Horace Mann, Mason-Rice, Burr and Bowen elementary schools.  "We would prefer doing permanent construction, but our timeframe just doesn't allow for it," Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education Joe Russo told the committee Monday night. Facing increased enrollment and strained classroom space, School administrators last month presented recommendations for new modular classrooms, expanded buffer zones and some classroom reconfigurations for the 2013-…

In this Article:

Sprinklers Could Put Major Dent in School Expansion, Budget, Angier Elementary School, Newton School Committee Approves New Buffer Zones, Budget Add-Backs, and 14 more ›

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

More Delays for Modular Classrooms at Newton Elementary Schools

The city had to re-bid the projects for four modular classrooms, pushing the completion date out by a few weeks.

Three space-strained Newton elementary schools will now have to wait until December or January before receiving completed modular classrooms.  Late last month, a construction bid was posted for four modular classrooms at Zervas, Burr and Horace Mann Elementary. However, Newton's Chief Operating Officer Bob Rooney said Tuesday the city has had to re-post the construction bid for the four modular classrooms, delaying the construction process by a few weeks.  According to Rooney, only one vendor came back with a bid after last month's posting, and the bid was at a price above the $923,375 budgeted by the city for the four classrooms. The city could not accept the bid, Rooney said, and had to re-bid the project. "There was quite a bit of …

In this Article:

Elementary Modulars Move on to Design Committee, Aldermen and Newton City Hall

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Elementary Modulars, F.A. Day Expansion Plans Progressing this Summer

At last week's School Committee meeting, there was a lot of talk about facilities projects and how they are progressing.

It's a busy season for the Newton Public Schools and facilities projects aimed at improving the classroom experience for a rapidly-growing student population. "We've got a lot going on this summer with facilities," said Deputy Superintendent/Chief Administrative Officer Sandy Guryan at last week's School Committee meeting. After receiving approval from the School Committee, Programs & Services and Public Facilities Subcommittees as well as the Finance Committee and Board of Aldermen, the four modular classrooms proposed for three elementary schools are on the track for going out to bid this week. The bids for the modular classrooms are set to go out this Friday, July 29, Guryan said at the July 19 School Committee meeting.  Aldermen …

In this Article:

Elementary Modulars Move on to Design Committee, Aldermen, Public Facilities Committee Approves Modular Classroom Site Plans, Finance Committee Gives OK to Modular Classrooms, and 7 more ›

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Newton Board of Aldermen Approve Funding for Modular Classrooms

The board gave it's approval for $923,375, which will fund four modular classrooms at three elementary schools.

Three of Newton's elementary schools are one step closer to having more classroom space. The Board of Aldermen last night voted to approve more than $923,000 to fund four modular classrooms for some of the district's crowded elementary schools. Two classrooms are slated for Zervas Elementary while Burr and Horace-Mann Elementary are set to receive one each. "What we should be doing is building on to these schools in an appropriate way," said Ald. Susan Albright, who supported the funding but reminded the board that modular classrooms are not a permanent solution for a rapidly-growing district. "These are stop-gap measures because we have to do them."  The vote comes after the board's Public Facilities, Programs & Services and Finance …

In this Article:

Public Facilities Committee Approves Modular Classroom Site Plans, Finance Committee Gives OK to Modular Classrooms, Elementary Modulars Move on to Design Committee, Aldermen, and 5 more ›

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Finance Committee Gives OK to Modular Classrooms

The committee approved $923,375 in funding for four classrooms at three Newton elementary schools.

Following the approval of the Board of Aldermen's Public Facilities and Programs & Services Committees, the Finance Committee Monday night voted 4-0 in favor of funding for four modular classrooms at three of the district's elementary schools.  The classrooms -- which are slated to be at Burr, Horace Mann and Zervas Elementary Schools -- are proposed to help crowding issues and significant increases to student enrollment. The committee's vote, though, came after a lengthy discussion of how "green" the requested modulars would actually be, and whether certain modulars would actually benefit from additions like light shelves and fiberglass windows.  Building Commissioner Stephanie Gilman presented several options to the committee Monday …

In this Article:

Public Facilities Committee Approves Modular Classroom Site Plans, Burr Elementary School, Horace Mann Elementary School, and 2 more ›

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Elementary Modulars Move on to Design Committee, Aldermen

The School Committee last night voted to install four modulars at three elementary schools.

With a vote last night from the School Committee, plans for modular classrooms at three Newton elementary schools are on a fast-track for fall 2011.  The four classrooms, which will be installed to alleviate a space crunch at Zervas, Horace Mann and Burr Elementary Schools, now move on to the city's Design Review Committee and the Board of Aldermen for approval.  To review the timeline of the modular project check out an earlier story here. The committee voted 8-1 in favor of the recommendation for two modulars at Zervas and one each at Burr and Horace Mann. Ward 7 representative Matt Hills was the only committee member opposed.  While he supports the idea of modular classrooms, Hills did not feel comfortable voting for something that did …

In this Article:

Sprinklers Could Put Major Dent in School Expansion, Budget, Proposed Modular Plan on the Table for School Committee, Zervas Elementary School, and 3 more ›

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Timeline: F.A. Day Middle School Construction

School is hoping renovations will be complete by Sept. 2012.

As the School Committee considers modular classrooms at three elementary schools, it's also keeping tabs on progress of permanent construction plans at F.A. Day Middle School. At Monday night's special School Committee meeting, Deputy Superintendent/Chief Administrative Officer Sandy Guryan and Building Commissioner Stephanie Gilman informed the committee that the city is on track to choosing a firm for F.A. Day construction designs.  After nine firms submitted bids, Gilman said four were selected for interviews, which were held Tuesday. Three finalists will be submitted to the mayor, who will award the final bid.  Once on board, Guryan said the designer will look at previous options presented to the committee, complete construction …

In this Article:

Proposed Modular Plan on the Table for School Committee, School Committee Approves Recommendation to Expand Middle School, Sprinklers Could Put Major Dent in School Expansion, Budget, and 3 more ›

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