STRUCTURAL STEEL for Huckleberry Hill School’s new addition was recently installed. (John Tomasz Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The elementary schools’ expansion project remains on schedule, School Building Committee Chairman John Scenna said in an interview with the Villager last week.
The $18.75 million expansion plan entails constructing two permanent additions each containing five classrooms onto both elementary schools in order to address increasing enrollment. Four traditional classrooms are being built at each school while the fifth classroom at each addition will be utilized as an individualized learning space.
Huckleberry Hill School’s addition is going to be located at the back of the building while Summer Street School’s addition will be located off of the fourth grade wing. Two existing classrooms at both schools will be renovated as well, and a new gymnasium will be built at Huckleberry Hill School.
“We are progressing and are on schedule,” said Scenna. “We are aiming to have the buildings be weather-tight by the middle of January, which will allow the work to continue to proceed through the winter.”
Superintendent Kristen Vogel informed the Villager in an email that Huckleberry Hill School is using art-on-a-cart and Summer Street School is using music-on-a-cart this academic year due to the existing space issues at both schools.
Scenna said phase 1 of the expansion project involves constructing the two additions.
STORMWATER INFILTRATION TANKS were recently installed for Summer Street School’s new addition. (John Tomasz Photo)
“Structural steel is in the process of being installed,” said Scenna. “Over the next two or three weeks, the walls and the roofs will be complete. The material for all of that work is either in Lynnfield or en route to Lynnfield, which is great because supply chain challenges have existed. We met last week, and we feel all of the pieces to the puzzle are in place to enclose these buildings by the middle of January. That was our goal from the beginning because we didn’t want to face the challenges that winter can throw from a construction perspective. The quicker we can get these buildings weather-tight, the more efficient the project will become. It will allow electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians and other contractors to start working inside throughout the winter.”
Vogel said at a recent School Committee meeting that the roofs for each addition will be installed this month.
“Once the walls and the roofs are done, the work will move inside,” said Vogel.
Scenna anticipates the additions at both elementary schools will be ready to welcome students, teachers and staff after April vacation.
“We are on schedule to turn phase 1 over to the schools once the kids come back from April break,” said Scenna. “Kids will be able to start using the new classrooms immediately.”
Scenna said phase 2 of the project involves removing Huckleberry Hill’s existing gym and constructing the new gym that will be similar to the one at Lynnfield Middle School.
“The existing gymnasium will be taken down and a new one will be put in place,” said Scenna. “We are looking to start phase 2 after February break.”
Scenna said phase 3 of the project entails renovating existing spaces at both schools. He said preschool classrooms at Summer Street will be renovated. He said kindergarten and special education classrooms at Huckleberry Hill will be renovated as well.
Director John Tomasz informed the Villager that the DPW constructed Summer Street’s revamped parking lot last summer.
“We excavated the majority of the front parking lot and installed a new asphalt driveway, new parking areas and granite curbing,” said Tomasz. “We installed over 100 stormwater detention and infiltration units within the parking areas. We installed a new gas line to the building.”
Scenna said Huckleberry Hill School’s site improvements will be undertaken this summer, which include expanding the parking lot and reconfiguring the bus loop. He said a new playground and a new field will be built at Huckleberry Hill as well. Scenna also noted that a new playground and field will also be built at Summer Street because the existing ones were destroyed during construction.
Vogel recently told the School Committee that administrators selected the additions’ new furniture and technology in late November.
“It’s going great,” said Vogel about the expansion project.
Scenna echoed Vogel’s viewpoint.
“We want to make sure the classrooms are fully furnished and the technology is in place so the kids, teachers and staff can quickly transition into the additions when the kids get back from April break,” said Scenna. “There is a lot that goes into it.”
Scenna said local officials have been meeting with representatives from Tappé Architects, owner’s project manager Leftfield and general contractor Castagna Construction each week.
“We anticipated some of the supply chain challenges coming into the project, but the approach we have taken focuses on today while also planning for the future,” said Scenna. “Our architectural team has been very good with reviewing materials to make sure that submissions meet our specifications. We have had great inspection on site, and we have had great support from school administrators. It has been challenging, but efficient. We are staying the course.”
