Published in the July 29, 2016 edition

By JESSICA VALERIANI

MELROSE – While space crunch-alleviating modular classrooms set for the Hoover, Horace Mann and Winthrop schools are planned for the following educational year, the School Committee was told this week that work is progressing nicely in other facilities as they prepare to open for 2016-17.

Taking advantage of just about every inch of available room, the older school buildings are being renovated to reflect the needs of a 21st century education.

For example, the multimillion dollar Learning Commons at Melrose High will be significantly completed by August 19. So too will three new educational spaces being created to handle the increase in students this coming school year at the Lincoln, Roosevelt and Winthrop schools.

Recently, the School Committee decided that a more permanent solution to longterm space needs in the Melrose school system would be buying modular trailers and installing them on the grounds of the Hoover, Winthrop and Horace Mann schools. The decision to build modulars was unanimously recommended by the Permanent School Building Committee because they are the least disruptive solution.

The city needs to plan to ahead for increased enrollments that will result in the shortage of six to eight classrooms at the kindergarten to grade 5 level over the next 10 years. Overcrowding is not projected at the middle or high school; the capacity at those two schools can handle the projected student population growth.

The modulars will be ready for the start of the 2017-18 school year.

“Everything is expected to be done August 19 so the classrooms can be open to teachers and janitors before the year begins,” said Superintendent Cyndy Taymore this week. “The DPW is very busy.”

Taymore said money had been set aside from last year’s budget for the classroom being built at Winthrop Elementary School. The two new classrooms being built at Roosevelt and Lincoln are going to cost approximately $44,000.

The city of Melrose will be providing funding for half of the cost of these modules. Superintendent Taymore says the rest of the funding will most likely come from the cities facilities account.

The next school board meeting will be held on August 23 at 7 p.m. in City Hall.