Space crunch in elementary schools pushes Amherst to consider speeding sixth grade move to middle school
Claire Fortin, Karena Krouch, Oscar Reich, Noa Long, and Anna Everett, all fifth graders at Fort River, attend class Thursday in the classroom created as overflow space in the cafeteria. STAFF PHOTO/CAROL LOLLIS Michael Morris, Amherst schools superintendent, sits on the desk in a second grade classroom at Fort River Elementary School that went from being a quad to a “halfsie.” Originally four classrooms with a half wall, the room now consists of two classrooms with a full wall, and is why the school now has the need to create a classroom in the cafeteria. STAFF PHOTO/CAROL LOLLIS
By John Lee Grant |
(WHAV News file photograph.)
A proposal for repair work at Haverhill’s William H. Moody School remains in limbo today because of a possible misunderstanding between Haverhill school administrators and the Massachusetts School Building Authority.
At the last School Committee meeting, Haverhill Facilities Director Stephen D. Dorrance said the 107-year-old building needs some preventive maintenance to its roof, windows and heating system in order to avoid problems in the future. He said those particular issues make it a good candidate for the state’s Accelerated Repair Program which would cover much of the cost.
However, when Assistant School Superintendent Michael J. Pfifferling attempted to start an online application, it would not let him do so.
May 13, 2021
Editor, Townsman:
My children had the benefit of starting their elementary education at Shawsheen Elementary School and completing their final three years at West Elementary. While the education and commitment of the teachers was excellent, the buildings were grossly inefficient and substandard for current learning environments.
Over the years, we have put Band-Aid solutions onto both West El and Shawsheen to keep the buildings operational for our children. The problems are still there, we just continue to cover them up in hopes that they will go away.
With Andoverâs acceptance into the Massachusetts School Building Authority s grant program for school building construction, we now have the opportunity to create a permanent solution for two schools by building a West Elementary and Shawsheen Preschool academic campus on the site of the current West El.
Madison Czopek May 11, 2021
Members of the Board of Selectmen. From left to right: Peter Teitelbaum, Alan Slavin, Judith Whiteside and Jim Munise.
During a May 11 meeting, the Board of Selectmen unanimously authorized Wareham Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Shaver-Hood to submit two statements of interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority.
Submitting a statement of interest is “the critical first step” in applying to grants for school building repairs, according to the state organization. The statement of interest informs the Massachusetts School Building Authority “about deficiencies that may exist in a local school facility and how those deficiencies inhibit the delivery of the district’s educational program.”
Amherst School Committee reopens discussion on whether 6th grade should remain in elementary school or move to middle school
Updated May 10, 2021;
AMHERST – The school committee has reopened discussions on whether children in 6th grade should remain in the three elementary school in town, or move to the regional middle school that currently includes grades 7 and 8.
Superintendent Michael Morris presented information on the matter last week at the regional school board meeting and it is on agenda for the May 11 remote-access Amherst School Committee meeting scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Board Chair Allison McDonald took to Facebook on Sunday urging parents and the community to share their thoughts, submit public comment and ask questions about the idea, saying that, at Tuesday night’s meeting, the committee will “discuss the possibility of moving 6th grade to the Middle School.”