Westwood Town Meeting approves bridge funds for Hanlon project
Wicked Local
The move toward replacing Hanlon Elementary School took a big step forward during Westwood s annual Town Meeting on May 3.
Residents approved Article 13, which would allow the town to borrow $1.46 million to help with design development for the school project.
Should residents approve the overall project at a Town Meeting in October, the old Hanlon School would replaced with a larger facility that would house students from both Hanlon and Deerfield.
Peter Ittig, a member of the Finance and Warrant Commission, said he voted against the measure, saying the request was premature; he wanted the town to wait until the vote in October.
Bridge funding for Westwood school project gets TM approval
SUBMITTED BY WESTWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The new elementary school project in Westwood is a big step closer to reality after Town Meeting overwhelmingly voted to approve $1.46 million in bridge funding, allowing architects to continue design development work until a final Town Meeting vote on the final project cost is held this fall.
“We are thrilled with the vote and the support of the town to enable us to move this project forward on schedule and on budget,” said Maya Plotkin, who chairs the School Building Committee.
The proposed elementary school will replace the Deerfield and Hanlon schools (both of which date back to the early 1950s) and will be built on the Hanlon site. The two-story building will be energy efficient, with a goal of net zero emissions, and accommodate up to 560 students. It is designed with grade-level neighborhoods and includes a large learning area for collaborative projects, as well as a STEM
Westwood school project gets thumbs up from state
COURTESY OF WESTWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Westwood has gotten the green light – and a commitment of up to $18.2 million in reimbursement funding – from the Massachusetts School Building Authority for a new elementary school. The MSBA, which accepted Westwood into its program in 2018, approved the town’s project on April 14, subject to the town approving the project at Fall 2021 Town Meeting.
“This is a huge step,” said Maya Plotkin, chair of the Westwood School Building Committee. “We have had strong support from the community, including the Select Board, the Town Administrator, and other town groups and boards. In addition, residents have been fantastic about staying engaged and providing feedback on this project.”
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Westwood s School in the Woods moves one step closer
Wicked Local
Editor s Note: The following was submitted by Westwood Public Schools.
The new Westwood elementary school project is one step closer to reality, now that the town’s School Building Committee has approved a schematic design and budget for submission to the Massachusetts School Building Authority in connection with Westwood’s participation in the MSBA reimbursement program for school construction projects.
“Today was a milestone,” said Superintendent Emily Parks after the vote. “We’re excited and ready to move forward.”
The SBC approved a $87,850,386 budget for the new school, which will serve a maximum enrollment of 560 students in grades K-5 from the Hanlon and Deerfield districts. The building will be constructed at the site of the current Hanlon School. The theme governing the new school’s design is the “School in the Woods,” Parks said.