Kostan: Classical repairs on schedule

LYNN – Superintendent Nicholas Kostan toured the construction at Classical High School Wednesday for the first time since the extensive structural repairs began in December.Kostan told the School Committee Thursday night that the work remained on schedule and, while an entire section of the school has been gutted and blocked off, the disturbance to students in grades 10 through 12 still attending class there is minimal.”The good news is that everything looks to be on schedule, and Inspectional Services is very happy with the progress of the project so far,” he said.Construction is set to enter the third phase of the project within the next few weeks where contractors will drive new piles in to the ground to support the concrete slab that holds the building’s foundation.Kostan announced that the entire school would be closed for the summer from June 23 to Aug. 18 so that workers can complete electrical work without disturbing summer school or the administrative staff.Principals and staff members who work through the summer will move their operation to the former Classical High School, the current home of the Classical Freshman Academy inside the Fecteau-Leary building on North Common Street.Summer school will also move to the Fecteau-Leary and take place from June 30 to July 31.In other construction news, Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr. said Thursday that work to Manning Field should wrap up within the next few weeks as soon as new windows are installed in the field’s facilities.”Anyone who has ever worked construction knows that windows are probably the toughest thing to get and get done,” he said. “What a beautiful facility that is going to be.”Kostan announced Thursday plans to begin the process of screening and interviewing candidates for three open elementary school principal positions next week.The Superintendent said he has received over 20 applications for three open positions at four city elementary schools, but would like to reduce that number through screening before calling in candidates for interviews.The Sisson, Cobbett, Drewicz and Hood elementary schools will all be without a principal next year due to retirements. Kostan said he is looking to hire three new principals and relocate Washington Community School Principal Joseph Cole to the fourth vacated position.A committee made up of Kostan, members of the administration and School Committee, one elementary school teacher and principal and one reading coordinator will meet next Thursday to begin reviewing resumes.All three positions will be vacated due to retirement this summer.The School Committee unanimously voted Thursday to once again keep school choice out of Lynn, as it has the past several years. Students must attend districted neighborhood schools or apply for a formal transfer with the School Department.The Committee voted unanimously to accept the appointment of School Support Coordinator Susanne Rowe to the position of Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the 2008-2009 school year.Rowe will replace the retiring Joanne Roy.