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Committees: School Building Committee

2009 Annual Report

The Committee is pleased to report that the new elementary school, East School, opened for the new school year in September 2009 – on schedule and under budget.

The new East Elementary School is 91,350 square feet and built to accommodate 630 students from pre-kindergarten to grade five. The first priority of the design was to optimize the educational environment provided by the facility for students and staff. Other important features included operational efficiencies, environmental friendliness, alternative community uses, and architecture consistent with other signature Hingham buildings.

The total budgeted cost of the project was $26.5 million with an estimated state reimbursement of $10.37 million, creating a budgeted cost to the Town of $16.2 million. While the project is not fully closed out and audited at this time, final project costs will be more than $500,000 below the expected budget.

Meaningful improvements were also completed at Plymouth River and Foster Elementary Schools. Projects to revitalize and enhance the learning and safety environment at these schools include the following:

Plymouth River
• New Art Room
• New Small group Instructional Areas
• Reconstructed K Classrooms
• New Computer Room
• Environmental improvements: new lighting, ceilings, sinks, flooring, shelving, painting, exterior brick repointing, and HVAC
• Safety: new security and fire alarm system
• Instructional Technology: Smartboards
• New Lobby Entrance Area
• Repaving and design of front entrance driveway,
sidewalks and drop-off loop
• Building access improvements

Foster
• New Art Room
• New Music Room
• New Small Group Instructional Areas
• New Grade level Assembly Space
• New Gymnasium floor
• Environmental improvements: new lighting, ceilings, painting, flooring, library carpet, new and additional lockers, toilet rooms
• New roof sections
• Security system improvement
• Access improvements at Main entry Plaza and cafeteria entrance
• Instructional technology: Smartboards

Following a $400,000 window replacement project at both schools in Summer 2010, the Committee will have completed the system-wide improvements to address overcrowding and facility needs at the Elementary level envisioned by the 2006 Ten-Year School Building Master Plan that was approved by Town Meeting.

The final remaining component of the Master Plan is a project to address the significant overcrowding and facility challenges that continue at the Middle School. The appropriate resolution of this challenge must now be the focus of this Committee along with a collection of other Boards and engaged members of the community.

Alan Macdonald, Chair                Peter Bradley
Tim Collins, Vice Chair                Sandra Cleary
Steve Nagle, Secretary               Stefan Voglemann
Samantha Anderson