SAUGUS — The superintendent of schools is shifting his goals to prepare for a district with only three schools.
In his goals, which were approved by the School Committee earlier this month, Superintendent Dr. David DeRuosi said he plans to continue working on the reconfiguration of a grades 6-12 building by creating a uniform schedule for the middle and high school, developing ways for high schoolers to integrate their experiences with middle schoolers, and to meet regularly with middle and high school principals.
He also plans to lay the foundation for the construction of a grades 3-5 science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) academy and a lower elementary school for kindergarten through second grade. To do that, his goals are to look for professional development opportunities, work with the town to start the bid process to pay for the project, and name the principals.
“The plans you see here are going to make it all happen,” said DeRuosi.
Voters overwhelmingly supported two debt exclusions to allow for the construction of the new school and a restructuring of the entire district during a special election in June 2017.
The first question requested $160 million for a grades 6-12 combination middle and high school. The second sought support for a $25 million district-wide master plan that would restructure the district to include an upper elementary school for grades 3-5 at the existing Belmonte Middle School and a lower elementary school for pre-K through second grade at the Veterans Memorial Elementary School.
Following the election, the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), the quasi-independent government agency that funds public schools, awarded the town a grant of up to $63.8 million to construct the building.
The master plan is a town project and is being pursued through the MSBA. The town’s share of the total project is estimated to be $118 million, bonded over a 30-year period.
When complete, the new middle-high school will be 270,000 total square feet, including a 12,000-square-foot gymnasium and capacity for 1,360 students in grades 6-12. It will house state-of-the-art science labs and technology classrooms, fine and performing arts classrooms and a 750-seat auditorium. In addition, plans include a new sports complex and outdoor track, walking paths, outdoor classrooms, and student gardens.
“It’s a cultural shift,” said DeRuosi. “No longer can we accept compliancy. Average can no longer be good enough.”
In his goals, DeRuosi also said he wants to maintain a visual presence in the schools by visiting at least one school per week, to increase student attendance rates in grades 6-12 by 1 to 1.5 percent, and continue to address family concerns. He plans to continue engaging in a grandparent guardian group, wellness informational nights for parents, and regular meetings with home and school liaison staff.
