Saugus and Winthrop share school notes

SAUGUS – Members of the Saugus High School Project Committee sought inspiration for future plans for its new high school when they visited the school currently being constructed in Winthrop.The visit comes as the feasibility study phase of Saugus’ project with the Massachusetts School Building Authority begins to pick up.Saugus Town Manager Scott Crabtree, chairman of the School Building Committee and Saugus School Committee vice chair Jeannie Meredith, Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian and high school Principal Michael Hashem all attended the visit and took a tour of the building last month.”They’re actually doing what we’re looking at the feasibility of doing,” said Crabtree.Plans for the town to build a new high school in coming years progressed at the beginning of August when the building committee was invited to enter the feasibility study phase by the Massachusetts School Building Authority.As part of the 22-month phase, the committee will collaborate with the MSBA, conduct a study and develop an educational plan, building design and space parameters to construct recommendations for the town to consider. It will also look at hiring a project manager and architects.This walkthrough was a way for committee members to begin examining different options and what has worked for other schools going through a similar process. It also provided them the opportunity to discuss and ask questions about Winthrop’s ongoing project.The committee was invited by Winthrop Superintendent John J. Macero and Curriculum Director Frank Woods, both of whom have ties to Saugus. They also introduced the committee to the architects and contractors of their building project, HMFH Architects, Inc. and Gilbane.”We’re looking at different options,” Crabtree said. “We’re looking at the facilities of other districts and towns and cities who have done this and taking away the things that work and the things to look out for.”The new Winthrop school will be a combined, yet segregated, middle and high school, which is something the committee has been openly considering for Saugus.We were able to “look at a full construction,” Crabtree said. “What was really enlightening was the educational plan driving their design in their middle and high school combination.”It’s two separate, secured facilities,” he said. “There’s segregation, separate administrative offices and separate entrances.”A combined school in Saugus would hold up to 1,360 students in grades six through 12. Like Winthrop’s new building, it would have separate facilities for middle and high schoolers, including separate entrances, administrative offices, classrooms and cafeterias.The committee is planning to arrange additional school visits, including to North Reading High School, which was just completed working with the MSBA, Crabtree said.”There are a lot of communities who have already built new high schools,” Crabtree said. “I think we will be able to benefit and want to benefit from their experiences and learn the do’s and don’ts. I think it’s an advantage for Saugus.””We want to bring as much information to the school building committee and to the public and taxpayers so that they are well informed,” he said.”The new school building is a tremendous opportunity for our community,” he said. “We are excited to have taken this first step towards evaluating our options, and with the guidance and partnership of the MSBA, begin learning how other communities have handled similar projects so that we can apply and benefit from their experience.”