Swampscott sets public forum for proposed school

SWAMPSCOTT – The plan to build a district-wide elementary school in Swampscott to replace the current three buildings is expected to take one more step toward completion with a public forum Thursday.At 7 p.m. in the Swampscott Middle School library, the town School Building Committee and its consultants as well as members of the school administration will share the specifics of the proposed grades 1-4 facility. The building would be next to the middle school on Forest Avenue, and the presentation Thursday is to include building layout, security, energy efficiency and a traffic and parking study.?We want to let the community know more than just having our own meeting. It?s very exciting,” said Glenn Paster, vice chair of the School Building Committee.In addition, residents will find out the project?s price tag. A September story in The Daily Item included a cost estimate of $38 million, but Paster declined to give the final figure in advance.?We know how much the building is going to cost, we know how much the reimbursement is going to be. We just want to make sure it?s presented to the community first,” he said.A partial reimbursement would come from the Massachusetts School Building Authority, and Paster said final approval from the agency is expected March 26.Paster said committee members believe moving to one elementary school is “the best thing for the district from an education point of view.” Also as part of the plan, the Clarke Elementary School would then become an early childhood center for pre-K and kindergarten students.?It?s about education and equity. We?re going from old elementary school buildings to really a model that all the teachers will be together, they?ll be able to collaborate,” he said, adding, “You?re not going to have three different buildings under three different ways.” In an email that Paster sent Monday to the community about the project, Superintendent Pamela Angelakis said, “The feedback from the teaching staff has been one of excitement and educational opportunity. Our teachers are confident that having one building for the important elementary school years has endless educational and social advantages.”For a town such as Swampscott, Paster said, it is “virtually impossible” to support a neighborhood school model. While he acknowledged he understood why parents would want to keep the three schools, he said the buildings need repairs that would end up costing the taxpayer more than constructing a new, district-wide building.?The community?s going to be paying one way or another because the schools aren?t in good condition,” Paster said.After the forum, the matter will go to Town Meeting in May, where a debt service override must be approved with a 2/3 majority. If Town Meeting OKs the proposal, the matter will go to town residents for a June vote.?The next three months, it?s information, information, information. ? We have to start doing our push to educate and engage,” Paster said.