Revere school project planning begins

REVERE – Even as they prepare to start work on a new Paul Revere School, school officials are making plans for replacing the McKinley School by 2011.Unlike relatively new schools like the just-opened Rumney Marsh, Whelan and Anthony schools, McKinley is a 105-year-old brick stalwart attended by 444 students compared to 225 who went there in 2001.School Superintendent Paul Dakin said a city plan to replace the McKinley in 2011 with a new building would provide “equity” for students in Revere?s central neighborhoods.McKinley students browse through library books on shelves in the school?s hallways while the library is reserved for computer learning.The school?s top floor doubles as a cafeteria and music room but the students learn on a state-of-the-art computer phonics program and classroom “smart boards.”Construction on a new McKinley will not start until after a new Paul Revere School is built in 2009.Dakin hopes a construction contractor for Paul Revere can be picked this month and start construction in October with most of the work on the new Paul Revere taking place over the winter on the site of the current school.Four hundred Paul Revere students are attending school in a section of the Beachmont School. Although it was reimbursed for 90 percent of the cost on other school building projects, changes in school building rules are forcing the city to combine loans, local tax dollars and a state grant to pay for the $18.5 million Paul Revere.Councilor at large Daniel Rizzo last month said the city?s improved bond rating will reduce the cost it incurs to borrow money to pay back the state loan for Paul Revere?s construction.Mayor Thomas Ambrosino said the timing for building a new school is good: Many other communities are a year away from completing design work necessary to start school projects.Dakin hopes to introduce an extended school day at McKinley even before designs for the new school are completed. The Whelan and Garfield Middle schools obtained $1.5 million in state money this year to offer a school day running from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. The money covers the added cost of teacher salaries.McKinley teachers last winter applied for state “fast track” approval to lengthen the school day to 3:45 p.m. and provide additional English language and mathematics instruction as well tutoring and experimental learning.McKinley Administrator Elizabeth Anton would like to offer dance and music after school to students if extended day is approved. Dakin has proposed coupling extended day with after-school programs by placing private after-school programs in all local schools.He said the public schools could benefit from working with organizations that match seniors seeking volunteer opportunities with school programs.