At the conclusion of two nights of presentations and questions, the 2008 Annual Town Meeting approved the appropriation of funds for the next steps of the High School Building Project. This appropriation marks a major milestone in moving the project forward and enables the development of schematic design of the preferred option. Please see below for further details.
~ The Wellesley School Building Committee
ATM Approves Appropriation
The fourth night of Annual Town Meeting was dedicated to a comprehensive presentation of the High School Building Project. Prior to the evening, Town Meeting Members received a Project Binder containing information on the multiple facets of the project. (There are copies of the Project Binder in the Wellesley Free Library and it will soon be posted on the SBC website.)
Starting with a thorough presentation of the history of High School building initiatives and projects, members of the SBC continued with details on the building deficiencies, capacity limitations, the educational program and specifications, the options under review, costs and funding, and the town's capacity for bearing these costs.
The presentation concluded with a request from the Permanent Building Committee for an appropriation of $2.7 million in order to fund full schematic design work and to complete the comprehensive feasibility study required by the Massachusetts School Building Authority.
The fifth night of Town Meeting provided for an opportunity for comments and questions. After significant discussion, Town Meeting voted in favor of the motion, 182 to 35 (84% in favor). This approval enables the appropriation of funds necessary to move the High School Building Project forward.
Moving Forward
Over the next four weeks, we will be making a final determination on which building option to pursue (the Forum or the Hub), pending concurrence with MSBA.
As part of the decision process, we will be conducting a new series of public meetings to provide the opportunity for the public to weigh in on this important decision, as well as on the designs in general. These "Decision Point" meetings will provide a close look at the building project, extending the information provided at the Moving Forward meetings in March. Information will include cost evaluations, interior perspectives and elevation graphics (how the buildings would appear from street level).
The public meetings will be held as follows (note: specific audiences are indicated, but all meetings are open to the general public):
Wed, Apr 30 at 7:30 pm Wellesley MIDDLE School auditorium (constituent groups)
Sun, May 4 at 3:00 pm Police Station (all community welcome)
Tue, May 6 at 7:30 pm - cablecast live Wellesley MIDDLE School auditorium (Town Meeting Members)
Mon, May 12 at 1:00 pm Wellesley Free Library, Wakelin Room (all community welcome)
Thu, May 15 at 8:00 pm - Final Decision Point Town Hall, Great Room (Joint SBC/PBC Meeting)
We encourage you to attend one of these important meetings on the High School Building Project.
Forging the Future
We on the School Building Committee greatly appreciate the strong support received at Town Meeting for the High School Building Project under development. Throughout the evening, the comments made and questions asked by Town Meeting Members and town residents were thoughtful, insightful and heartfelt.
The magnitude of this project weighs heavy on us all. It is a milestone project for today's residents and for future generations and it is our collective obligation to forge ahead.
We are excited by what the future holds and are confident we can work together to bring this project to a fruitful conclusion. It is our intent to work in collaboration with the MSBA to provide a facility which enables the strong educational program, delivers value and is a source of pride for the Town of Wellesley in the century ahead. |
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Important Dates
SBC Film The SBC film entitled "If these walls could talk...WHS from the Inside Out" provides a clear, concise and visual tour of the building.
Mondays at noon Tuesdays at 3:30 pm Wednesdays at 9:00 pm
Reference Articles
Recently added:
The WHS Project: A Principal's Perspective, by Andrew Keough, Wellesley High School Principal and SBC Member. Insights into how a high school building is integral to the learning experience, effective curriculum delivery and a student's sense of well-being.
WHS: a 50-year Solution, Physically and Functionally, by Tom Goemaat, Member of SBC. While the physical building must be built to last 50 years, it must also be functional for as long. This article provides a summary of why past proposals have failed to meet both objectives and why there really is no "low cost" option.
Reality Check on the WHS Building, by Steve Gagosian, Member of the SBC and Permanent Building Committee. A cursory look at the condition of the WHS physical plant and state of the systems and structures.
Building for the future, by Tom Goematt, Member of the SBC. A preliminary cost evaluation of the High School options, including the critical factors and variables which impact costs.
Learning from Others, by Cynthia Westerman, Member of the SBC. A summary of the site visits to local high schools which have recently undergone renovation and/or new construction.
For Performance or Sport: The Space Matters, by Suzanne Littlefield, School Committee and SBC Member. A summary of the School Committee decisions regarding design of the Auditorium and Gymnasium spaces to enable the WPS Educational Program.
Enabling Core Values, by the SBC. The key principles (in order of priority) to serve as the foundation for decision-making in the High School Project.
The WHS Project and You, by Katherine L. Babson, Jr., Chair of the SBC. The impact of the High School Project on each and every resident and the commitment to two-way communication.
How Public Education has evolved in Wellesley, by Bella Wong, Superintendent of the Wellesley Public Schools. How the many changes in teaching methods, state and federal mandates to education, and the importance of the extracurricular programs impact the current Educational Program.
WHS Project: The Pieces of the Puzzle, by Bella Wong, Superintendent of the Wellesley Public Schools. A summary of the physical space needed to enable the WPS Educational Program. The resulting "Architectural Educational Program" details what is included and where it is located and as such, becomes the basis for the building design.
WHS Project: The Importance of Site, by Marlene Allen, Member of the School Committee and Chair of the Interboard Land Use Working Group. A summary of the study conducted by the Land Use Working Group to assess the constraints and opportunities afforded by the land parcels adjacent to the current High School site.
SBC Members
Katherine L. Babson, Jr. Selectmen Representative SBC Chairman
Steve Baker Citizen-Architect
Tom Goemaat Citizen-Contractor
Steve Gagosian PBC Representative
Rusty Kellogg Advisory Representative
Andrew Keough High School Principal
Hans Larsen Executive Director
Suzy Littlefield School Committee Representative
Kathy Mullaney PBC Projects Administrator
Cynthia Westerman Citizen-Project Manager
Bella Wong Superintendent of Schools
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