Lynnfield HS looking to expand

LYNNFIELD-Increasing student population numbers has Lynnfield High School thinking about expanding their campus.According to Superintendent Bob Hassett, both the School Committee and the Board of Selectmen unanimously approved the school?s request to submit a Statement of Interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), who works to provide funding to schools in need of costly improvements.?In some ways, we?ve been a victim of our own success,” said Hassett. He claims that Lynnfield?s attractive scenery, high real estate values, excellent SAT and MCAS scores, as well as increasing number of students going on to post-secondary education, are all factors in the town?s ever-growing population.Based on an enrollment study conducted eight years ago, Lynnfield High School can expect to see 760 students in the next four years. However, using his own assessment of the numerous developments currently underway throughout the town, Hassett said he expects the student population to increase to at least 800 students by 2012.The building was designed to hold only a maximum of 590 students and currently holds 651.?We have 150 seniors going out and approximately 190 freshmen coming in,” said Hassett. “So we?ll see an increase of 40 on top of that alone.”To accommodate the larger number of students, teachers and staff have had to be creative with the space available. Special Education services has been moved to the elementary schools, the part-time media classroom in the library has become home to classes 6 out of the 7 periods each day, two computer rooms became regular classrooms, and the physical education health room is also now being used as a regular classroom.?That?s how we?ve adapted at this point,” said Hassett. “But we?ve sort of run out of space to convert at this point.”Hassett hopes to see some relief with help from the MSBA to either build on to the existing structure, or perhaps by placing portable or module classrooms somewhere along the open campus. He suggested using those classrooms specifically for the incoming freshmen, since the largest numbers appear to be coming from there.Modular classrooms would be more permanent structures placed on an actual foundation. Hassett estimates the cost to be roughly $300,000, which would yield four classroom spaces.Portable classrooms, however, would be significantly cheaper at $200,000, plus utility work. They would be roughly 25 feet wide by 64 feet long, similar to a construction site trailer, and placed on concrete pilings.Plans for the expansion are very preliminary, cautioned Hassett.?If the MSBA agrees that we do need some help and they?re willing to give it, the next step would be some sort of feasibility study, showing where we can put these, where they?ll fit,” he said. “I don?t know if we?re going to get assistance?It?s an absolutely horrible economy.”But, Hassett said he remains optimistic.?If we don?t get approved this year, next year we?ll just submit the SOI again,” he said.