School Committee Recommends Five Building Projects

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — The North Andover School Committee recently proposed building projects at five district schools to the Facilities Master Planning Committee.

The committee voted Sept. 23 to recommend the following five projects:

• "Renovate and add capacity to the North Andover Middle School
• Renovate and add capacity to Atkinson Elementary
• Renovate and add capacity to Franklin Elementary, including a new gym
• Build a new Kittredge on the same site as the existing Kittredge
• Build a gym for the ABECC on the site of the preschool playground and relocate the preschool playground next to the kindergarten playground."

"These projects are critical to the success of our students going forward," the committee said. "They address our most pressing needs by allowing us, to impact class size while building capacity for future growth; to create 21st century learning spaces that include appropriate space for student support and specialists; to ensure equity in education for North Andover students across the district; and to address ADA and code requirements in our oldest schools, including retiring the portable classrooms that are well past their expected use."

The district, along with its consultant Mount Vernon Group and Town Manager Melissa Murphy-Rodrigues, will be presenting the projects at public forums through Dec. 1:

• October 18 (6:00-8:00 PM) Atkinson Elementary
• October 19 (6:00-8:00 PM) Franklin Elementary
• October 25 (6:00-8:00 PM) Kittredge Elementary
• October 26 (6:00-8:00 PM) North Andover Middle School
• November 4 (1:00 -3:00 PM) North Andover Senior Center
• November 8 (7:00 PM) Select Board Meeting at Town Hall
• November 9 (6:00 - 8:00 PM) ABECC (Bradstreet)
• December 1 (7:00 - 9:00 PM) North Andover Youth Center

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.