October 19, 2020 meeting

Chairman Barrett called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. He announced that the meeting was being recorded for cable television via Zoom.

COVID report from town administrator

Mr. Dolan said there are 19 active cases, which range in age, there are four hospitalizations, which the Town has not seen for a while. He said like many communities, Lynnfield is seeing an uptick in cases, although in recent days this has stopped. Youth sports will remain shut down for another week. He said safe trick-or-treating guidelines are available on the Town website. He said that people should follow the rules and avoid neighborhood gatherings that would violate the guidelines. He said the Town and the School Department are working closely together. Superintendent of Schools Kristen Vogel and Mr. Dolan agreed families are being responsible. Chairman Barrett thanked the community for its patience and its positive response.

Report of the School Building Study Committee

Chairman Barrett thanked the members of the School Building Committee. He said this is a milestone in a journey of over two years. He introduced the proposal to create the School Enrollment and Capacity Exploration Committee (SECEC) two years ago when he and others observed the changing demographics that indicated that additional school space may be needed. He said studies have borne out that this was the correct action. He said Lynnfield is one of the most desirable communities in the state because of its school system. He thanked Chairman John Scenna and members of the SECEC for their work and said there was no better choice to chair its successor committee, the School Building Study Committee, than Mr. Scenna.

Chairman Barrett said the Town is fortunate to have former Superintendent of Schools Jane Tremblay work on this project. He said this will ensure Lynnfield public Schools will continue to offer the best program possible to Lynnfield students.

The presentation by the committee was made by

Kristen Vogel: Superintendent of Schools; Rob Dolan: Town Administrator; Charlie Hayes: Principal and Lead Architect Tappe Inc.; Jane Tremblay: Educational Liaison Lynnfield Public Schools; John Scenna: School Building Study Committee Chairman.

Other members of the committee are: Jamie Hayman: School Committee Chair; Tim Doyle: School Committee Representative; Chris Barrett: Board of Selectmen Representative; Chris Mattia: Finance Committee and HHS Representative; Jack Dahlstedt: Community Representative; Marco Tammaro: SSS Representative; Rob Dolan: Town Administrator; Tom Geary: Schools Director of Finance; John Tomasz: Director of DPW.

Mr. Scenna said the SECEC worked with New England School Development Council (NESDEC) and Tappe Architects as consultants to review projected school enrollment, educational needs and the current school facilities and concluded that the two elementary schools will not be able to accommodate, as currently configured, the projected enrollment growth.

The School Building Study Committee worked with Tappe Architects to explore how the current schools might be expanded while the School Committee explored other options. They concluded the most responsible path would be to expand the existing two elementary schools. The SBSC reviewed data throughout the summer.

Ms. Tremblay said that during the process many asked whether this would have an impact on the Middle School and High School. She said it is clear those schools have the capacity to absorb the projected enrollment increases due to the available space in their buildings. The Middle School was built with “pod” areas to accommodate additional classrooms. The High School had an addition to the science wing added about ten years ago.

Enrollment projections make it clear the problem is imminent. At first, many thought this might just be a “bubble” that would dissipate. But the initial projections for the past two years have been realized. Elementary enrollment is expected to increase from 870 in 2019-202 to 1039 in 2026-2027 and level off.

Ms. Vogel said there are 42 classrooms at the elementary schools in total. The enrollment projections using current class size guidelines show the need for 43 this school year up to 48 by 2023. This year, the COVID pandemic has resulted in many parents holding their children out of kindergarten for a year. Others have moved students out of the public schools with the intent of returning to the Lynnfield public schools next year. The totals are 18 at Huckleberry Hill School and 23 students at Summer Street. Chairman Barrett said that this will have significant impact in future years. Ms. Vogel said that time is of the essence to address these space needs due to the rapid enrollment increases that have been projected.

Ms. Tremblay said that several options were explored, including repurposing music and art rooms for regular classrooms and putting these programs “on a cart”; redistricting; larger class sizes; relocating the preschool, and school additions. She said even if all options other than expansion were implemented, it would not be possible to absorb the enrollment increase and offer the same quality educational program that the community expects.

The art and music “on a cart” option would jeopardize the integrity of instruction for those programs. Music and art programs help students develop creativity and critical thinking skills. These programs are also very important to many students and allow them to have success.

Redistricting will not help as both schools are at capacity. Larger class sizes are unacceptable educationally. The preschool program was moved from 525 Salem Street to Summer Street School to allow the programs to use the gymnasium, medica center, and to allow educators to collaborate. She said that moving it back to 525 Salem Street would require the hiring of a director, a nurse, and other specialists. Even if the two preschool rooms were moved out of Summer Street School, additional space would be needed to meet the growing enrollment.

Ms. Vogel said that she has recommended to the School Committee that the elementary school building project is the only option that allows for the schools to continue to provide the high educational program that the community expects.

Mr. Scenna said Tappe Architects studied the possible expansion of the two elementary schools. Charles Haye presented the capacity analysis and conceptual plans for expansion. He said there are no places within the current building structures in which to squeeze out additional classrooms and that they are already strained for classrooms and also meeting spaces and other requirements stemming for the need for special education and small-group learning programs.

Mr. Haye said site design is also difficult due to parking lots, pick-up and drop-off queues and other elements. Site visits and studies indicated that both buildings are in good condition. At Summer Street, the proposed addition would be a classroom wing added where the playground exists. The Playground would have to be recreated elsewhere on site, nearer to the existing playing field. He said site work would also improve drop-off and pick-up and parking issues. He said the additions at both schools would allow for five classes per grade level, or 21 students per classroom on average based on the peak enrollment projections.  

At Huckleberry Hill School, and additional classroom wing and a new gymnasium that would benefit both the school and community. Site improvements also address the car and bus loops and parking as well as the playing field.

He said that adding a second floor would not be cost-effective and would disrupt the school programs during construction, as it would require significant modifications to the existing buildings.  He said modular construction does not result in a significant reduction of cost, but will result in a shorter useful life. He said there is no reason to recommend anything other than traditional construction, would modular take approximately one year. He said this will be the best outcome in both cost and quality.

Mr. Scenna said this design is driven by data. The proposal is based on needs and not desires, with an attempt to allow students to attend school during construction. The plans were vetted with educators at both school, school administrators, members of the School Committee, Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee. Open community forums will be held as well as ongoing discussions with stakeholders and abutters.

The consultant estimates the total cost to be $17 million; if passed by the Town it would begin next summer and be ready for occupation in September of 2022. It would require a Proposition 2-1/2 debt exclusion. The impact would be $205 per year for the average-valued house in Lynnfield, for a period of 20 years. Geotechnical studies and septic design work have been explored. He said every year thew project is delayed will result in an impact on the students.

The School Building Committee unanimously voted to ask that the Board support the program by calling for a special town meeting on November 21 and a special election on December 8 to approve funding for the project.

Chairman Barrett said he believes the community has shown it supports the public schools and has invested in the priority of low class sizes and his witnessed its benefits. He said as an educator and parent he does not want to see class size compromised. He said detracting from the music and art programs will be a major step backward in social and emotional learning. He thanked the Lynnfield teachers for their efforts through these challenging times.

Lorie Kelley, elementary school teacher and president of the Lynnfield Teachers Association, thanked the committee for its efforts and said that the strong support of this project speaks to Lynnfield’s commitment to education. She thanked the committees and School Department for working together to advocate for the youngest members of the community.

Selectman Dalton thanked the committee for its work but said he does have concerns about the need for an active campaign to convince residents to support the project. He said that the past building projects and the Market Street project had significant campaigns to gain support, and warned that the voters cannot be taken for granted. He said this is not directed at the committee, which has put the work on the studies and options. He urged supporters to educate voters, saying one cannot rely on the to read newspapers and educate themselves.

Selectman Crawford agreed, and said there is a grassroots group working on it. Voter education is the most important challenge going forward, but creative means will be needed with the limitations imposed by the pandemic. He thanked the committee for its works, and said he agrees that the proposed additions are necessary given the enrollment projections. He said that the Town went through this process once before which resulted in a new Middle School and significant renovations to the other three schools. He said the growth in the enrollment is a sign of the success of the school system and the Town.

Chairman Barrett agreed that past projects were the result of organized voter education efforts. He said that the Sagamore age-restricted housing development did not pass because supporters did not do enough to educate the public. He thanked all involved with the presentation.

Town Administrator Robert Dolan said a meeting with abutters of both schools will be held on Thursday night. Initiations were dropped at their homes. He made it clear that there are not yet full designs for these projects, but said it is important t to hear abutters’ concerns and share the information that is available.

School Committee Chairman Jamie Hayman said that an advocacy group has started and is getting bigger every day. He said implementing all options short of a building project will still not address the enrollment issue. If the plan doesn’t pass, the average class size will be 25, with some larger and some smaller. He said School Committee members are willing to meet with any group at any time.

Mr. Scenna thanked the Board for its input and said that any options other than building would be a short-term approach to a long-term issue. Failure to act now will push the project out for another year. As a parent of three, he said he hoes that school will return to traditional education soon, and he said once students return to school, he wants to ensure the schools can accommodate them.

Chairman Barrett said the community has always supported the schools.

Request for executive session under Mass. General Laws Chapter 30A, Section 21 (A) (3) to discuss strategy with respect to litigation, to wit, Boston Clear Water Company Inc. vs. Town of Lynnfield et al; if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares.

MOTION by Selectman Dalton, duly seconded by Selectman Crawford: I move that the Board enter executive session under Mass. General Laws Chapter 30A, Section 21 (A) (3) to discuss litigation strategy for which an open discussion may adversely affect the Town’s negotiating position.

The chairman announced that the Board will not resume regular session.

Roll call vote: Barrett – yes; Dalton – yes; Crawford – yes.

The Board entered executive session at 8:55 p.m. and adjourned at 9:20 p.m.