1935-Annual Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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REPORT OF TOWN CLERK 97 Your Committee believes that the present arrangement, with Bedford and Burlington is of economic advantage to Lex- ington and should he continued. 11. By Enlarging Present High School Building As to the advisability of adding to the present building, several objections are seen. a. The building is so constructed and located that it is not ideal for further expansion. b. Any addition will occupy part of present inadequate site. c. The present heating system cannot heat a large addi- tional unit. d. 1r classrooms are added to existing structure, it will make the building unbalanced. The lunchroon now serves four lnnclishifts each day beginning at 11:15 and extending to 1:00 o'clock, The gymnasium, locker rooms and shops are now be- ing used al, maximum capacity. No room is now available for l lusic or Art work. In other words, if we are to enlarge our present school plant, we should include additional units neces- sary for a complete high school a.n.d not simply classrooms. c. Booms in the Junior High School are now being used for classrooms that are below the best standards. These rooms are intended only for emergency use. Other rooms are filled be- yond their capacity. f. Enlargement. of the present Omit will make it of sucii size that its use as a building for one school in the future will be difficult. g. The absence of an adequate playground near the High School is one of defects. 'T'here is a limited lot of land now undeveloped between this building and the railroad tracks. While this land would be of value to the school, the site would still be inadequate. if a new high school unit is planned, it should be located where suitable playgrounds are possible. It is the opinion of this Committee that the town should not make additions to the present high School Building, but should secure at once a proper central location for a future high school unit. 98 TOWN OF LEXINGTON II1. By Erecting a New Building to Serve for Either of the Two High Schools If the Lown decides to retain the tuition pupils from Bed- ford and Burlington and not to make additions to the present High School Building, it will be necessary to erect a new school unit. It has been suggested that a separate junior high school be erected in another section of the town and still continue our present combined Junior High School and Senior High School. While it will undoubtedly be true as the town develops that more than one junior ]sigh school will be required, the chief objections to this plan at present are that no one section of the town now is of sullieient size to warrant another permanent unit, and it is impossible to forecast the future growth of the town. Furthermore, the educational results obtained from a small unit are very nnsatisfactory. It is our opinion that for some years to come Lexington -can best he served by one junior high school maintained in some central location. We believe this junior high school should be located in the present building or in a new building in a central secliou of the town. C. Problems in Selection of Future Building Site The Commitee had in mind from the beginning that any parcel of land purchased for school purposes must of necessity measure up to a four point program, viz: 1. The land must be suitable fora school building This refers particularly to the condition of the soil for sustaining a heavy weight, also drainage and sewer conditions. 11. Sufficient land must be purchased for all school activities, parking space and possible future additions to plant This includes baseball, football, track; tennis, etc., as well as allowing sufficient area for parking cars caused by evening sessions, entertainments, etc.