State promotes Saugus school proposal

SAUGUS – Plans to build a new high school in Saugus in upcoming years progressed to the next stage after a meeting on Thursday morning in which the Massachusetts School Building Authority put the proposal in the feasibility phase.The feasibility phase is a 22-month process during which the School Building Committee will conduct and look at the results of the required study needed to advance the plan. Among things to be considered are options for design work, possible locations for the building and costs.The meeting was held at the MSBA’s office in Boston and involved the building authority, Saugus High School Project Building Committee members and officials from the town.In attendance were Town Manager Scott Crabtree, Superintendent of Schools Michael Tempesta, Saugus High Principal Mike Hashem, Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian, School Building Committee chairman Jeannie Meredith, and Debbie Panetta and Jennifer D’Eon from the Board of Selectmen.”It was very exciting,” said Crabtree. “It was a big day for Saugus.”I look forward to a partnership with the MSBA as well as working with the committee as this progresses,” he said. “This is a time of new beginnings and a future for the town of Saugus.”The town began its eligibility period in January 2014 after it sent a statement of interest to the MSBA. Hundreds of schools express interest in the program each year, and Saugus was one of the few invited into the eligibility period, said Crabtree.The eligibility period involved getting all necessary information together, including capital and maintenance budgets from the past, present and future, Crabtree said. It also involved a site visit and walk-through with the MSBA last year.”We’re certainly showing them that there is a tremendous need,” said Crabtree. “And there’s also collaboration and support from elected officials and the community. This is needed and wanted, and we’re committed to it.”Now that Saugus has been invited into the feasibility phase, committee members will begin moving forward with looking at their options and deciding which are the most “fiscally responsible” and “educationally appropriate” solutions.The invitation into the feasibility study phase is a chance for the town to work with the MSBA to explore solutions for the problems it is facing. However, it is not an approval of the project.”This 22-month process will bring us through the design and schematics, as well as evaluating the design of feasibility itself,” said Crabtree.”Now that we have been invited into the feasibility phase, we will look at hiring an owner’s project manager and a designer,” he said.The building committee will make recommendations for the roles and the committee will interview, evaluate and hire the best fits.”That will probably take a few months,” Crabtree said. “They will look at the feasibility of the project and at putting together the designs and schematics.”They will also further discuss the possibility of creating a combination middle and high school for grades 6 to 12. The idea has been presented the community, and Crabtree said it received a positive reaction.”It will be driven by an educational plan that will now be enhanced,” he said. “It will continue to be presented to the community for their input and involvement in making that decision.”A location of the new school is also in question. Committee members will look at the feasibility of different locations, but Crabtree said the location of the current school on Pearce Memorial Drive might be the most favorable option.”We will continue to have meetings with the community, and as we know more, we will present more to the public,” he said.”This is certainly a community project,” Crabtree said. “It’s a very exciting opportunity for the town and community, as well as for the students, to move the town in a forward direction.”