Published in the March 22, 2019 edition.
The following statement has been issued by Wakefield School Committee Chairperson Tom Markham and Superintendent of Schools Doug Lyons.
WAKEFIELD — Wakefield School Committee Chairperson Tom Markham and Superintendent Doug Lyons will host a community forum to provide information on future plans for Wakefield Memorial High School next Thursday, March 28, at 6:30 p.m. in The Savings Bank Theatre at WMHS.
During this community event, parents and residents will have the opportunity to discuss the future of Wakefield Memorial High School. Participants will not only discuss the facility, including potential building and campus options, but also examine academic and learning needs. All are invited to attend.
In December 2018, Wakefield received notice from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) that construction of a new or renovated high school facility would not be funded in 2019. The MSBA provided feedback on the 2018 submission, including positive commentary, and invited Wakefield to apply again in 2019. Since that time, the School Committee and school administration have been hard at work to reconstitute, amend, and update our proposal materials for 2019.
The initial document that is presented to the MSBA is called a school’s Statement of Interest (SOI). It must be crafted by school and town officials and approved by both the School Committee and Town Council before submission to the MSBA. After thorough internal evaluation, the 2019 SOI is now under review by Dore and Whittier, the project architects. It will be shared with the community at the March 28 forum and later provided to the School Committee and Town Council for review and vote. The submission deadline is April 12, 2019 for funding consideration in 2020.
The March 28 forum agenda will include:
• Comments from school and town officials regarding the current conditions of the high school;
• Facility assessment information by Dore and Whittier Architects;
• A review of the MSBA’s selection process for state project funding; and
• Information about the needs of the building and options moving forward.
“We recognize that families have busy nights, often with competing commitments,” said Markham, “but the School Committee hopes for a strong turnout at the high school project forum as we renew the important community conversation about the future of Wakefield Memorial High School. We welcome and invite participation from all citizens.”
