Glover students to design artwork for new school

MARBLEHEAD – The new Glover School will feature a new and impressive piece of artwork designed by students.Local historical artist April Frost will return to Marblehead to work with Glover students to design a mural depicting the historic figure their school is named for, General John Glover.Glover, one of George Washington?s most dependable military leaders, commanded a regiment of Marbleheaders. Their exploits included the crossing of the Delaware River and the successful battle at Trenton.Principal Mary Devlin located Frost, who works in ceramics and tile, in Maine and invited her to create the mural, which will follow the students? designs.The Glover School Building Committee is poised for a significant milestone this week.When committee members convene Wednesday evening they will discuss and approve the so-called 100 percent documents for the new 425-student, $20.19 million school building they plan to build on the site of the present Glover School.The 100 percent documents are the last that the town needs to submit for state approval before contracts are awarded.Project managers Patrick Saitta and Charles Adams submitted the project?s 90 percent documents to the Massachusetts School Building Authority March 2, after the committee cut an estimated $400,000 from the construction cost of the building, including about $200,000 worth of items that could be restored to the project if the construction costs are under budget.Committee members expect to have the MSBA?s comments on their 90 percent documents Wednesday evening.Once they approve to 100 percent documents, Saitta and Adams will submit them to the MSBA. The deadline for submission is April 6 and the MSBA is scheduled to approve the documents April 11.Architect James LaPosta told the School Committee last week that subcontractor bids are scheduled to be awarded May 9, followed by the selection of a general contractor June 7.Construction will begin in mid-July and continue through November 2013. The new school is slated to open between Dec. 20, 2013 and Jan. 29, 2014.