Maynard High School opened in 1962. It totals 89,000 square feet and currently houses grades 9-12. In the fall of 1992, the cafeteria and the auditorium were rebuilt due to a fire the previous summer. More than forty years after the school opened, many systems in the facility have outlived their expected service life and the building can no longer support 21st century education. Because of the deficiencies in the physical plant, MHS did not have its accreditation renewed and has been placed on probation.
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) is a regional accrediting association that establishes standards for all levels of education, from pre-K to doctoral level. When a school receives accreditation it means that an external body has evaluated its programs and operations and determined that it meets quality standards. Maynard schools are accredited by NEASC.
Maynard High School had its ten-year NEASC site visit in the spring of 2002. The Commission’s report placed MHS on ‘warning’ status for a range of facilities and curriculum issues. Over the next four years, changes were made to the high school curriculum and NEASC removed “curriculum” as one of the reasons for probation.
We have been unable to make similar improvements on the facilities. In February of 2006, NEASC notified the district that it was placing MHS on probation because the inadequate facilities do not support teaching and learning. Probation status means that MHS is in danger of losing accreditation.
Deficiencies identified by NEASC include:
- Poorly designed science labs
- Limited guidance space
- Limited storage space
- Inadequate locker rooms that are not ADA-compliant
- A cafeteria in need of upgrading
- The need to have separate bathrooms for special education students
- Heating, ventilation and plumbing issues
- Cracks in the exterior of the building
- Electrical issues
Facilities Studies to Date
To better understand the current structural issues, the Maynard School Committee commissioned Tappe Associates, Inc. to conduct a School Facilities Strategic Planning Study. Tappe examined the physical plants of both the Green Meadow School (Pre-K through third grade) and MHS. You can read these two studies by following the links below:
http://www.maynardschools.org/Facilities/GM1AssetSummaryReport.pdf
http://www.maynardschools.org/Facilities/MHS1AssetSummaryReport.pdf
Tappe determined that Green Meadow Elementary School is in sound condition, although in need of renovation primarily to its heating and ventilations systems, and roof. Some of these improvements have already been made.
However, Tappe determined that MHS has serious deficiencies in its physical plant, including systematic problems with heating, plumbing, and electrical. It is also not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
MSBA Process
On April 9, 2009 the MSBA moved MHS to Feasibility Planning status, meaning in part: MSBA would pay a little over half of our planning costs. The School Committee, with the support of the Selectmen and Finance Committee, moved forward a warrant article for a Feasibility Planning process, funded at about 55% by the MSBA, which was passed by the Town. The Selectmen then selected the following members to the Maynard School Buillding Committee, who has been overseeing the project.
Members
Jerry Culbert, Chair Ed Mullin Chris Johnson, Finance Committee
Matt Briggs Bonnie Winoker Bob Nadeau, Selectman
Anthony Midey John Barilone, Sr. Mark Howrey, School Committee
Ken Neuhauser Peter O’Callaghan
Advisory Members
John Curran, Town Manager Peter DiCicco, School Business Administrator
Mark Masterson, Superintendent Laura Chesson, High School Principal
The Maynard School Building Committee selected Municipal Building Associates as the Owner’s Project Manager (OPM). Throughout the feasibility planning, the OPM serves as the MSBA/Town’s overseer of the entire process, making sure that all viable alternatives are professionally reviewed, and is required by the MSBA.
The MSBA approved hiring Tappe associates as the architect who helped cost out alternatives, e.g. refurbish, build-new, add-on, etc.
Options studied can be found here: http://movingmaynardforward.com/ProgresstoDate.aspx