MANCHESTER – On Tuesday night, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen gave initial approval for $290 million in bonding for facilities work in the Manchester School District. The vote holds over until the December 5 meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, when that board will make a final decision.
“I would like to thank the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for its support tonight, and we look forward to a final decision on December 5,” said Superintendent of Schools Jennifer Chmiel Gillis. “As we seek to bring learning in Manchester into the 21st century and beyond, it is essential that we address the spaces our students learn and grow in. This work is a critical investment in our students’ future and the future of our community, because we know that healthy, thriving schools equate to healthy, thriving communities.”
The $290 million covers “priority one” of the district’s long-term facilities planning, which includes the closure of Henry Wilson Elementary School, construction of new elementary school, shifting Hillside and McLaughlin Middle Schools to the 5-8 model, and renovating all four middle schools to properly accommodate fifth grade students and the “team” middle school model.
“This investment in our school buildings is an investment in the future of our community,” said Mayor Joyce Craig. “Our students deserve a learning environment that will set them up for success, and I’m grateful to the Aldermen for moving this critical funding forward.”
Manchester School District’s long-term facilities planning work is broken into two priority lists. Priority one recommendations were approved initially by the Board of School Committee in August, with a final approval on November 13. In detail, the priority one recommendations include:
- Wilson closing: Henry Wilson Elementary School would close at the end of the current school year. Students and staff would be split between Beech Street School and McDonough Elementary School for the start of the upcoming 2024-2025 school year.
- New elementary: Construction would begin on a new elementary school near Beech Street School starting in fall 2024.
- Middle schools: Hillside and McLaughlin Middle Schools would receive fifth graders for the first time starting in fall 2024, and all four middle schools would receive renovations and additions to accommodate additional students and better serve the “team” model that is currently used.
- Temporary modular classrooms: New temporary modular classrooms would be placed at Beech Street, McDonough, Parkside, Southside, McLaughlin and Hillside to accommodate additional students and facilitate the construction process.
- High school site: Initial work to identify a site for a new, comprehensive high school.
Priority two recommendations, which will be detailed as part of a master plan set for completion by March, will include plans for the remaining elementary schools and the four high schools. The District is planning to bring updated plans for a comprehensive high school forward in February. As part of that planning, the District will schedule listening sessions on the high schools before the start of the new year.