Newton Eyes Countryside, Franklin Schools For Renovation

NEWTON, MA — The next two schools that need serious renovation or replacement are Countryside Elementary and Franklin Elementary, according to the School Committee.

This week the committee gave the go-ahead to submit plans for the district's intentions with the two schools to the Massachusetts School Building Authority, in the hopes that the state may approve one of them for state funding.

The district just moved students back into the Cabot school after two years of renovation there, and are working on Horace Mann, the former Horace Mann at 487 Watertown St., Lincoln-Eliot on Jackson Road (the former Aquinas) and Oak Hill Elementary. It's all part of the district's long-range master plan that began in 2007.

"We know we have to invest in Countryside, Franklin, Ward, Underwood, as well as continue our work on Lincoln-Eliot, New Horace Mann and Oak Hill," Mayor Ruthanne Fuller told the School Committee."The needs are clear, the needs are urgent."

The district will now submit two Core Program Statement of Interest for renovation or replacement projects at the Countryside Elementary and Franklin Elementary schools.

Then there's the issue with the district's oldest schools: Underwood (1924) and Ward (built in 1928) are projected to have 218 and 241 students within two years. According to district officials the numbers are too small to offer all program options and an optimal staffing model. The buildings are the oldest and Ward is in particularly poor condition. The school committee is putting together a task force to look into next steps there, and to meet with parents.

Although enrollment has been up for several years, five- year enrollment projections through 2024-25 show small overall district enrollment declines, as larger classes graduate and fewer kindergartners enroll. Still, the school buildings need serious attention, school officials say.

Countryside Elementary School was built in 1953 as a small neighborhood school. In the decades since it opened, the neighborhood has grown, adding enrollment pressures that led the Newton to add an annex only five years later in 1958. In the past six decades, enrollment increased, not only because of new homes in the area, but also from large scale apartment development like the Avalon Bay project on Needham Street. In response, the district built modular classroom adjacent to the annex. The last major renovation at the school was in 1990.

Franklin Elementary School was built in 1938 as a neighborhood school consisting of 13 classrooms, a large small group break-out room, an auditorium, main office, four sets of boys’ and girls’ restrooms, six staff restrooms, a kitchen, a staff break room, a staff work room, a public meeting room, 4,200 square feet of “play rooms,” a bicycle room, generous storage throughout the school, and a large wardrobe room. The original building was 45,406 square feet. In 1950, due to increasing enrollment, and the desire for indoor gym space, a 12,400 square foot addition was constructed on the northwest side of the school and included a gym, two restrooms, locker rooms, offices, a staff room, storage, and four classrooms. In 1953, as enrollment increased a 4,940 square foot addition was constructed on the southeast side of the school and included four classrooms, lobby that was designed to be used for small group instruction.

Read more about the two proposals:

Previously:

Cabot School Is Officially Open Again In Newton

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).