Published in the August 5, 2015 edition

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — It might not be as cool as the Bat Cave but the school department has a new operations center.

The school department officially moved out of Town Hall to its new central office location at 525 Salem St. last week.

As part of the school department’s capital budget for fiscal year 2015, Superintendent of Schools Jane Tremblay requested $75,000 to relocate the preschool to Summer Street School. In addition to relocating the preschool to Summer Street, Tremblay said the school department would establish a central office at the old preschool location.

Townspeople approved the school department’s request at April Town Meeting.

In an interview with the Villager last week, Tremblay said the school department’s move to Salem Street was successful.

“The move went as smoothly as it could have gone,” said Tremblay. “The movers were terrific and the DPW was amazing.”

Tremblay said the school department’s central office will include the superintendent’s office, business office, Special Services Department and will serve as the new headquarters for Technology Director Vincent Ruocco. She said each department’s phone numbers will remain the same.

As part of the move, Tremblay said the school department had to retrofit preschool bathrooms into adult bathrooms, create new offices by erecting walls and taking down walls, painting and also purchased some furniture. She said 12 employees will be located at the new central office.

Tremblay proposed relocating the preschool to Summer Street during the budget process because it would create additional space at Lynnfield Middle School, Senior Center and Town Hall. Additionally, she said relocating the preschool to Summer Street would be beneficial to the town’s youngest students because they will have access to the gym and playground at the elementary school.

The superintendent also said the central office will be beneficial to school administrators because it has a common area where school-wide meetings can be held. She said Lynnfield Curriculum Council and assessment meetings will take place at the new central office.

“It’s nice for the schools to have a central office,” said Tremblay. “I think it will help us become more efficient and effective.”