Superintendent's Group Presents Q&A on New School

This letter was submitted by the superintendent's office.

Swampscott was recently invited to participate in the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s (MSBA) process to determine whether we qualify for state funds to build a new elementary school. This is an important opportunity for Swampscott to plan and build a school whose infrastructure supports modern teaching methods, is eco‐friendly, energy efficient, and technologically current. 

This process can help further unite our community and significantly increase the town’s appeal and real estate values. There are many questions that we cannot begin to answer at this point. How much will it cost? What grades will the school hold? Where will it be located? So let’s start with the questions we can answer.

What are the challenges with our existing schools?

We love the old buildings and celebrate their heritage and all the students and teachers who have crossed their thresholds. Hadley recently celebrated its 100th birthday. Despite efforts to maintain the building, there are obstacles that cannot be overcome; electrical and plumbing systems are out of date; urinals are cemented to the walls making it impossible to make repairs; walls are horse hair and cannot accommodate fiber‐optic wires needed for internet use. A study conducted by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) found that Hadley was deficient enough in various areas to warrant it being replaced with a new building.

Why a new school?

A new building would include larger classrooms that provide space for small group activities that happen simultaneously. Classrooms at Hadley are between 650 and 750 square feet. Experts recommend classrooms of around 900 square feet that include a sink and room for more than the two computers that are typically found in Swampscott classrooms. A new building would also provide smaller work areas to be used for small group interventions and additional spaces for physical and occupational therapy. The new school would be greener, take advantage of solar energy, and allow us to build in the appropriate infrastructure so children can take advantage of current technology. Swampscott is a small community and a new building and a consolidation of school populations would allow teaching and administrative resources to be distributed more efficiently. More teachers at the same grade level working in the same location will increase opportunities for collaboration and leveraging off the strengths of others. A new school enhances every aspect of a community and is an important way to facilitate forward progress for our town. It may also provide space for the following: a community children’s library, a community gathering space, and a gymnasium for a variety of uses. It is a draw for those looking to relocate to Swampscott, and other towns have experienced a boost in real estate values with the addition of new schools.

What about our neighborhood schools?

In an effort to provide every student with the best education possible, SINCE THE CLOSURE OF MACHON priorities have shifted from placing students in the elementary school closest to their homes, to placing students who need special programs into the elementary schools where that program is housed, placing siblings with siblings in the same elementary schools, and a commitment to keeping class sizes as equitable as possible. Our community is small, and the feeling of neighborhood can be maintained even if all the kids of one grade were housed in a single location. This would give all parents the same stake in all of our schools and allow parents to work together with the greatest impact. In fact, an entire grade of students attending school at one location is likely to be a community builder for our town.

So, the next question is how you: community members, parents, teachers, and administrators feel at this preliminary stage of the process? What can we all do to help?

Discuss these ideas in the community, with friends and neighbors, let schools know your thoughts and opinions early and often, as the process progresses, and participate in the process, as determined by MSBA, to gather information when requested. Please review the Swampscott Public Schools’ district web site at http://swampscott.k12.ma.us for continuing updates of the process.

Stephanie Greenfield, Carin Marshall, Rebecca Spellios

Members – Superintindent's Communication Advisory Committee