Leaders back reconfiguration plan, GMS auditorium

In a series of momentous votes taken at a joint meeting on Wednesday, December 20, school and community leaders gave the greenlight to a new grade reconfiguration plan while offering wholehearted support to building a full auditorium at the Galvin Middle School.

The new configuration calls for fifth graders to join grades 6-8 at a new or renovated GMS, which is projected for completion by the fall of 2028.

The new configuration will only occur if the GMS project is approved by a special town meeting and in a subsequent special election to authorize a debt-exclusion override. The special town meeting is expected to be held in December 2024 with the special election slated for early 2025.

Also approved in a unanimous vote by the School Building Committee (SBC) was a new 800-seat auditorium at GMS, which has an estimated price tag of $16.7 million. While the GMS building project itself is in line for a significant reimbursement from the Mass. School Building Authority (MSBA), the auditorium is not eligible for MSBA funds and therefore the full cost would be borne by the town.

The SBC is made up of School Superintendent Derek Folan, Assistant Superintendent Stephen Marshall, Finance Director Randy Scollins, Town Administrator Charles Doody, Building Renovations Chair Bob McCarthy, and Select Board member John Connolly.

With the two votes on Wednesday, nine planning options were reduced to two: base repair of the current building plus construction of a new auditorium for $129.2 million or new construction with an auditorium for $212.5 million.

Although no final decision has been made, Folan said he is recommending that a brand-new building be constructed on the existing school parking lot.

School designers will now focus on a schematic design and a construction delivery method, both due to the MSBA by the end of January.

Folan said in coming weeks, the MSBA is expected to approve the district’s educational visioning plan with the inclusion of the GMS project. Folan, who recommended the grade configuration plan, said he had plenty of input from the series of community forums held in the fall and from discussions with grade 5 teaching teams and other staff. He added that the district has plenty of time to talk with other neighboring towns regarding best practices for a 5-8 configuration.

Folan said the current grade 5 program — including the curriculum, teaching teams and recess — will be brought to GMS when the renovations are completed. Current design plans call for grades 5 and 6 to be housed on the same wing with grades 7-8 in a separate wing.

Both Folan and current GMS Principal Jonathan Mulhern agreed that the move to GMS would give fifth grade students better educational and performing arts opportunities, and both agreed that fifth graders are ready to make the transition although the district would give the additional social emotional support needed.

Folan also noted that the move would open up space at the three elementary schools, all of which are currently at or near capacity. The only opposition to the reconfiguration plan raised at the meeting came from a parent who expressed concerns about bullying, noting that she still has bad memories from being bullied while attending GMS.

School Committee Chair Kendall O’Halloran and committee member Kristian Merenda both said they were unsure about reconfiguring the grade levels at GMS when the talks first started in 2017. But after attending all of the community forums, talking with staff and hearing the administration’s plans, they are now in full support of the move. “It’s a game changer. It’s a pivotal step for the community,” said Merenda. “I am very excited to be part of it,” added O’Halloran.

School Committee member Kim McCourt also voiced her support for the reconfiguration and added that she hopes all of the year-end traditions for grade 5 students can be preserved.

School Committee member Laura Arboleda, who was unable to attend Wednesday’s meeting, told the Citizen she supports both votes and is also enthusiastic about the project. “I am thrilled with the community support for the new configuration and new building,” she said. “It will relieve the elementary schools and will add a new space, purpose built to meet the needs of the student body, educators and staff. The entire community will also benefit from the added auditorium, which will be a great addition to our town. Gratitude to all involved.”

Committee member Maureen Moran was absent from both meetings last week.

“This project is so exciting; it’s a game changer. It’s a chance to be a crown jewel for Canton,” said Folan …

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Posted by Mike Berger on Dec 28 2023. Filed under News, Schools. Both comments and pings are currently closed.