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West Elementary School Building Committee
West Elementary was accepted into the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) program in December 2017 and is currently taking specific steps prescribed by the state process. Most notably, funding for a “feasibility study” was approved by Town Meeting in May 2018, and the study is expected to be complete in early 2020. As of August 2020, we are currently in module 4 of the process.
History and Background
Originally constructed in 1951, West Elementary School received its first addition in 1956 and housed students from kindergarten through grade six. In September 1988, West Elementary School became a K-5 school when the school system was reconfigured to a K-5 (elementary), 6-8 (middle), and 9-12 (AHS) model.
The second addition to the West Elementary School was completed in 1968. It included a media center, cafeteria, auditorium, faculty room, gymnasium, new offices, nurse space, conference room, reception area and two classroom wings (pods) with a large open area in the center of each pod.
Much of the school was built according to the open-space concept, without walls to separate classes. This style of construction proved to be a major detriment because it offered an abundance of visual and auditory distractions for students and provided no privacy for confidential meetings.
In 2001, classrooms in the two open pods were walled in, leaving a large open area in the center of each pod, creating heating and ventilation issues in classrooms.
Since 2001, West Elementary School has added movable partitions to the open area to create small areas; however, the partitions do not reach the ceiling, do not provide privacy, and do not block sounds from adjoining areas. The partition walls have been used as a last resort but are an unsatisfactory way to create small instructional areas.
West Elementary School has the second largest population of Andover’s ten schools, exceeded only by Andover High School. It currently serves 600 students with a staff of 120 teachers, tutors, instructional assistants and other support staff. The total building square footage is 94,000.
The West Elementary School Building Committee can be reached by emailing Chairperson Paula Colby Clements.
Module 4
Overall Steps in the Process
Module 4 Presentations (2020)
- West Elementary/ Shawsheen Preschool Focus Group and Design updates - October 27, 2020
- Construction Deliver Options - September 22, 2020
- Design Charette and Concepts by SMMA - September 22, 2020
- Preparation for the MSBA Board Meeting - August 20, 2020
Module 3 Presentations (2019-20)
- West Elementary Community Presentation - June 21, 2020
- Preferred Schematic Report (final version)- May 5, 2020
- Educational Program located on page 336
- Thoughts on West Elementary Technology - May 14, 2020
- West Elementary Construction Options - April 29, 2020
- Flexitorium Description - April 23, 2020
- Preliminary Design Program Presentation - April 16, 2020
- Preferred Schematic Report- part 2- April 2, 2020
- Preferred Schematic Report- part 1- March 18, 2020
- Preliminary Design Program- February 27, 2020
- West Elementary SBC Agenda- Square Footage Analysis - February 6, 2020
- Educational Plan Update - January 23, 2020
- Envisioning the New West Elementary School- January 15, 2020
- Visioning Education Plan update- January 9, 2020
- West Elementary Visioning Plan - December 18, 2019
- West Elementary Visioning Plan- December 11, 2019
- Preliminary Design Pricing Comparison Table
Previous presentations (2017-2019) are archived here Version OptionsWest Elementary School Building CommitteeHeadline.
Meetings are live-streamed on Andover TV and may be watched on Comcast 99 and Verizon 43.
To view a previous West Elementary School Building Committee meeting, click here for archives.
Committee Members | |||
---|---|---|---|
Paula Colby Clements Chairperson | Andrew Flanagan Town Manager | Susan McCready School Committee | Tracey Spruce School Committee |
Sheldon Berman Superintendent | Janet Nicosia Director of Facilities | Steve Nembirkow Chief Operations Officer (pending) | Elizabeth Roos Member |
Jennifer Hunt Member | Heather Eigen Member | Donna Walsh Finance Director | Paul Rollins Member |
Siggy Pfendler Member | Armata Kirpalani Member | Rick Almeida Member | Mark Johnson Member |
Architect: SMMA |
- What is the purpose of the West Elementary project?
- What is the MSBA?
- What process was followed to identify West Elementary for this project?
- What factors were considered in deciding whether to seek an addition/renovation or new construction?
- Why does West El need a new or renovated building?
- What is the history of the current West Elementary facility?
- Is an enrollment of 925 the right projection for West Elementary?
- What is the extent of the overcrowding at the current facility?
- What is the scope of the proposed project?
- Why is the Shawsheen preschool being considered as part of this project?
- How are Andover school buildings maintained?
- Will the current West Elementary continue to be maintained during construction of the new West Elementary/Pre-K facility?
- What is Shawsheen’s current enrollment and what is the capacity of the proposed preschool wing?
- What is West’s current enrollment and what is the capacity of the proposed elementary school?
- Will this project involve any redistricting of elementary student attendance areas?