by Joe Walsh
BHS News
Mayor Joseph Sullivan and the Braintree School Committee convened Monday to discuss future plans for several schools in Braintree.
Plans include immense renovations to East Middle School, expansion of the full day kindergarten program at the Monatiquot School, and possible future additions to several elementary schools.The school committee’s main concern is renovating East Middle School. The current proposal is similar to the renovations made to South Middle School in 2010. The focus of the project would be the school’s electrical, heating and ventilation systems as well as it’s ceilings. The last major renovation made to East was the replacement of many of its windows through the Green Energy Repair Program.
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The proposal would cost an estimated $6 million, nearly twice as much as the 2010 South renovations. Mayor Sullivan is scheduled to meet with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) on Wednesday to seek approval for the proposal.
“We hope that we will get favorable news on Wednesday. And i think that is our focus in terms of our statement of interest this year and hopefully we get that accomplished, and we replicate the improvements that we were able to make at South Middle School just a couple of years ago.” said Mayor Sullivan.The full day kindergarten program at the Monatiquot School is also going to be expanded next year.
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The school began a full day kindergarten program this year, however lower than expected enrollment has hindered future plans for more aggressive expansion. Mayor Sullivan hopes for higher numbers next year, and suspects that the $3,000 fee may have turned away some families who had expressed interest.
The School Committee and Mayor Sullivan also want to provide more space for students in Elementary school, an issue that Braintree school have been facing for several years.“We have a growing enrollment issue, which is a challenge, some might call it a problem but if you're going to call it a problem, its a good problem, because it means people are moving to town” said Mayor Sullivan“ I think we are doing, as a community a pretty good job,with that being said i think we are all pushing ourselves to do a little bit better.”
“Money is a huge factor.” she said.