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Home My WebLink About1963-SSBC-rpt Expension of Bedford High School.pdf To The Citizens of Lexington From The Standing School Building Committee Subject EXPANSION OF LEXINGTON HIGH SCHOOL On January 28 the Town Meeting will vote on the appropriation of an estimated $3.6 million for new facilities to expand the capacity of the high sch000l from 1200 to 2700 pupils This project is designed to relieve increasingly serious overcrowding, not only at the high school but at the junior high and elementary school levels as well Our objective here is to provide the basic information needed to understand this project and its importance to Lexington Additional infor- mation may be obtained from any member of the Building Committee. This expansion project, as shown on the next page, has been dis- cussed in committees, public meetings, and in the press since 1958. Many different programs and designs have been evaluated. Suggestions from many citizens, experiences of other communities, and ideas of professional archi- tects, engineers, and educators have been thoroughly analyzed and compared. In March 1962, after consideration of two alternative plans, the Town Meeting by a practically unanimous vote instructed us to complete working drawings and specifications and to obtain final bids in accordance with the plan pre= sented herein. The bids will be opened on January 22 and the actual appropriation to be requested will be published in the MINUTE MAN on January 24 and will be discussed at an informational meeting on January 23 at the high school audi- torium. While no change has been made in the overall plan as presented last March, every detail has been rechecked to insure to the best of our ability that the final design will provide for the lowest practical cost over the years on the basis of the educational needs, the number of pupils, the regulations concerned with public safety, and the requirements for financial aid (48.79%) from the State. The resulting program has been reviewed with the Board of Selectmen and the Appropriations, Capital Expenditures and School Committees and has their full endorsement Any major public building must be the result of many compromises, as each decision must strike a balance among several influences. It is clearly impossible to satisfy every citizen at every point, We have made every effort to take all factors into account to arrive at the best possible overall solu- tion for Lexington Respectfully submitted, John F. Barnaby Frederick K. Johnson Jaqueline B. Davison Robert B. Kent Robert G. Hargrove William G. Potter Austin W. Fisher, Chairman Medill Bair, Ex-officio A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE HIGH SCHOOL EXPANSION PROJECT Any school building project, of necessity, involves a great deal of time, discussion, and planning. This particular project has extended over such a long period that a brief review may be helpful. All decisions were made openly, dis- cussed at public meetings, and reported in the local paper or published in commit- tee reports. March 1957 Standing School Building Committee established to report to the Town Meeting (seven members are appointed by the Moderator and the chairmen of the Board of Selectmen, Appropriations, School, and School Building Committees). 1958-59 School committee, with advice of other town committees and citizens, reviewed high school needs and location. Tentative decision made to have single large high school. Sept. 1959 Secondary School Study Committee of 62 citizens appointed to review curriculum and operation. Report made public in July 1960. March 1960 Town meeting voted funds to Planning Board to study of central town property including proposed expanded secondary school. The school committee cooperated in determining ultimate high school enrollment. Nov. 1960 Town meeting cleared central town property for school use, confirming the decision for a single high school. Town meeting approved idea of 2700-pupil high school and voted $10,000 for Building Committee to make preliminary study for construction to be completed in two steps- one in 1963 and one in 1965 March 1961 Town meeting voted $17,000 more for preliminary plans for high school. Town meeting voted $15,000 for preliminary plans for Middleby Road elementary school for 1964 completion. May 1961 Proposal to build new high school facilities in single step for fall of 1963, at an estimated saving of 10%, agreed to at a joint meeting of major town committees. Postponement of Middleby Road School until 1966 was part of this plan. June 1961 Town meeting accepted preliminary plans for one-step expansion at estimated cost of $4,350,000 and voted $128,000 for completing of plans and securing bids, including transfer of the $15,000 Middleby Road appropriation. July 1961 Referendum overturned town meeting decision. August 1961 At a meeting of town committees and interested citizens, both pro and con, Building Committee offered to resign. Requested by all to con- tinue and restudy the project. Appropriation Committee provided $6,000 • from Reserve Fund. Oct. 1961 Town meeting voted $30,000 for restudy and preparation of two alternative plans. March 1962 Town meeting approved Plan B, estimated at $4,050,000 and voted $115,000 to prepare plans and obtain bids. Dec. 1962 Final plans and specifications completed, cleared for state aid, and released to contractors, final bids to be opened January 22, 1963. BASIC FACTS ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL EXPANSION WHY THIS EXPANSION NOW? For several years, there will be about 400 more children in our schools each fall Today the total enrollment (just over 7,000) exceeds the total cap- acity by almost 100 No new elementary space can be ready until 1966. By then, there will be at least 1600 more pupils than today -- equivalent to over 50 average classrooms The high school expansion already delayed one year, will relieve this pressure in 1964 by the moving of the 9th grade to the high school and several 6th grades to rooms in the junior highs The high school now is crowded with 150 over its capacity of 1200. Next fall, with over 350 extra, the 10th grade will be on double sessions. WHY A CAPACITY OF 2,700? A study by the Planning Board and the School Committee of the future of Lexington under present zoning laws showed that the ultimate enrollment in grades 10 to 12 should be just over 2,700 Thus, we are building to take care of all future 3-year high school needs and will efficiently Lase the space for a 4-year school in the meantime, postponing a new junior high until the early 1970's. WHY DON'T WE HAVE TWO HIGH SCHOOLS? There are many sound social and educational reasons , hut the most impor- tant reason is cost--a new 25-acre minimum site, duplicate facilities such as auditorium, library and shop, increased administrative and custodial staffs WHAT WILL BE TAUGHT IN THE EXPANDED SCHOOL' Exactly the same program that was available before the present overcrowd- ing caused some curtailment. This program is aimed at the best possible educa- tion for all pupils regardless of their academic abilities or future plans WILL THE AVERAGE STUDENT GET THE SAME ATTENTION IN A BIG SCHOOL? As much if not more, because each pupil will be part of a group of about 300 having its own staff of teachers and its own section of the building provid- ing general classrooms and an area for study and lunchroom use Each pupil will leave the unit not more than twice each day for subjects needing special facilities such as science, physical education, business, shop, art, and music Thus the advantages of a small school to the individual are retained while gaining the advantages of a large school in facilities HOW WILL THESE CLASSPOOM UNITS BE SET UP? As shown in the attached plans, six units will be in new buildings and three in the present building (requiring some partition changes after the new construction is completed ) The classrooms are designed only for 200 pupils at one time The other 100 will be taking subjects outside the unit or using the general purpose area WHAT IS THE SPVING IN DECENT.?LIZED EATING? Primarily in space -- less total new area is needed than for one large cafeteria which cannot be used efficiently during the rest of the day. cont next page Operating costs are the same as for a central cafeteria. Standard equipment is available to bring food and supplies to each unit from the present kitchen, to be enlarged after the new construction is completed. The present cafeteria will be converted for music and storage. WHY THREE NEW INSTRUCTIONAL BUILDINGS INSTEAD OF ONE? Primarily because it costs less with buildings as large as these. (Each is nearly as big as our newer elementary schools). A simple rectangular shape saves on general construction and, particularly for this site, on foundations. Since there are no special requirements in the classroom buildings, the design is lighter and simpler than the central building. The internal arrangement of the classroom buildings saves at least 10% by eliminating corridors and other waste space. The field house is a simple dome, costing less than half as much per square foot as the other buildings. WHY DO WE NEED MORE PHYSICAL EDUCATION FACILITIES? The present gymnasium is excellent , but just large enough for the minimum physical education program today. With enrollment more than doubled, additional space must be provided. The field house will cost about the sqme as a conven- tional gym but will permit a much wider variety of activities, both during and after school hours. WHAT ABOUT SCIENCE? The new facilities will provide the science space needed for all 2700 pupils, based on the percentage now taking science and the present number of hours per week. The inadequate space in the present building will be converted to art and shop-drawing when the new building is ready. HOW MUCH WILL IT COST? To date, for architects, engineers, and other services and expenses, a total of $178,000 has been spent. This includes the cost of the preliminary plans rejected in 1961 and the alternate plan prepared for consideration last March. The estimated cost of the new construction now out for bid is $3,065,000. The appropriation in January will also include an estimated $535,000 for equip- ment, fees, and services for an estimated total of $3.6 million. The exact amount will be determined by the lowest bid. Later appropriations to complete the project arter the new structures are occupied are estimated at $270,000 -- most of which will be requested in 1964 HOW WILL IT BE PAID FOR? Essentially all of the January appropriation will be bonded over 20 years. Annual payments of principal and interest, as reduced by State Aid, may be calculated from the table on the back page. The annual cost will not exceed $1.20 per $1,000 of assessed valuation in the peak year, 1964 or 1965. State Aid, recently increased from 46.48% to 48.79% of the capital amount, is paid in equal annual amounts over 20 years beginning this year. HOW DOES THE COST COMPARE WITH OTHER TOWNS? The only sound basis of comparison is cost per pupil. At $2700 the High School Expansion is below average for recent schools of this size in this area, many of which exceeded $3,000 and some $3500 when actual figures are adjusted for increases in building costs since the time of completion. ..,.k•^ ,,,.-'�ci"" .ear x . i y .p ey Y ka } {fit-r L 4�ry sL f s F ? { Z ay `E��fk.iry t 4 t Y ACADEMIC � r .[ �& y9y�L J 1 5C ltuG`5{ i} � i# y . i } 9y'ti'yur77w S. T /-77,1 .4oma°i'•' '� Ott Yt£LG a . 1 � � sk d1 � s � < i , PPP sx ? f =c<: , mss. ' :,.:.....:.,. :::::.. u w {. \ ' . r1 • '� $ ivK i $ s § t' ` .; + 'fi' :•''` FiELO HOUSE v EXPANS>IN � � } F j$� tom' '�? s••;;:kss: w +a7E''�X 4 ro3t -: ir�� ' kwr Y V e, # r l S Nf 41. 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A 3% interest rate is used. Pecent bond issues have been below 3%. 3. Local cost is determined by adding annual nrincinal payment of $50,000. to interest charges and subtracting annual state aid (48.79%) of $24,395. STANDING SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE School Administration Building 1557 Massachusetts Avenue Lexington 73, Massachusetts INFORMATION ON HIGH SCHOOL EXPANSION --Building Committee Letter —.History of Project —.-Questions and Answers —Site Plan —Floor Plans —Tax Table Special Town Meeting January 28, 1963