MANCHESTER – It’s known as the “newest school” in Manchester, but time, technology changes and student population shifts have resulted in a highly anticipated renovation project at McLaughlin Middle School on the city’s east side. On Friday, June 13, 2025, school and community leaders will break ground on renovations at McLaughlin. In addition, work is well underway to renovate and improve the learning spaces at the other three of the city’s middle schools.
“Public education is evolving and we want to match best practices in the classroom with the best possible facilities for our students,” says Dr. Jennifer Chmiel, Superintendent of Manchester School District. “When this project is finished, there will be new learning spaces, improved facilities and access to brand new technologies that simply aren’t available to the community right now. We are thrilled to be able to make these critical facility improvements.”
Renovations at all four Manchester middle schools is a centerpiece of the sweeping project known as “Priority One;” a multi-phase infrastructure improvement effort to boost learning and improve the learning environment for students and staff.
“With the addition of fifth graders shifting to middle schools, we have changing needs for our facilities,” says Jim O’Connell, Vice-Chair of the Manchester Board of School Committee. “This renovation at McLaughlin and at all of our middle schools reflects the new needs of a population of students across four grades. We want to give our students the best possible chance for success and the Board of School Committee is confident this city-wide facility improvement will give them the boost they deserve.”
Consigli Construction is spearheading the McLaughlin Middle School project as well as the extensive renovation work at Southside and Parkside Middle Schools. State-of-the-art modular classrooms are in place and in use to ensure continuity of learning during the construction schedule. Manchester School District is planning a series of Open Houses to provide opportunities for the public to monitor progress. Updates on schedules and events for McLaughlin can be found online at the District’s website: https://view.ceros.com/consigli/mclaughlin-middle-school/p/1.
Our Priority One project, along with work on A,B,C’s,(Attendance, Behavior, and Curriculum) are key to a district-wide effort to transform physical space, align curriculum, improve competitive salaries, expand learning programs, and improve outcomes for all students. These simultaneous efforts have already shown results as attendance, graduation and assessment rates are climbing and incidents of discipline and dropout rates are falling.
Workforce development and education are deeply intertwined, and the capital improvement plans for Manchester schools align with the district’s goal of providing well-prepared students to enter the workforce and make meaningful and immediate contributions to the city and its economy.
“Manchester schools are partners in building our city’s future,” says Superintendent Chmiel. “A high-quality public education means a stronger economy in both the short and long-term. Renovations such as the one at McLaughlin helps us provide the best possible learning environment to help students achieve success and move forward in their academic and professional pursuits. We are so excited about the future of education in Manchester.”