Town residents gather in Old Hall as Assistant Principal William McCarthy (checked shirt) explains during a Dec. 7, 2013, tour of the high school.
In advance of a special School Committee meeting to hear reports about state of Arlington High School, schools’ Superintendent Kathleen Bodie has pointed the public to a report calling for an update of all major systems at Arlington High School.
In an email to the community Tuesday, March 4, she wrote that the 100-year-old school has had no “major renovation since the late 1970s. Repairs have been made over the years as needed.”
Last year the engineering firm On-site Insight was hired to evaluate all of the mechanical, electrical and infrastructure needs of the building. The report indicates that all of the high school’s major systems need updating, she wrote.
In their 20-year schedule for repairs, the vast majority of the repairs would need to be completed in the first year. The complete report can be found on the district website here >>
Every 10 years, the high school participates in an accreditation process with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). In its letter dated Sept. 11, 2013, NEASC placed the high school on warning status for the state of its facilities.
In December, the architectural firm of HMFH, architects for the new Thompson Elementary School, was hired to analyze the programmatic needs of the high school, including the impact of the current building on teaching and learning.
Architect Lori Cowles will present her report to the School Committee on Thursday, March 6, and to the Board of Selectmen on Monday, March 10. Both will be broadcast on ACMi.
In addition, she will present her report to parents and community members on Wednesday, March 12, in the auditorium of the high school from 7 to 8 p.m. There will be an opportunity to ask questions.
A number of people have requested that the administration offer for tours of the building so that people can see firsthand what the needs are. Tours of the high school were held on the following dates and times:
Saturday, March 15, 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday, March 18, 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 20, 4 to 5:30 p.m.
If you are interested in participating in a tour, RSVP through this link >>
Dec. 23, 2013: Unprecedented process underway to reshape Arlington High
The school’s building history reflects a piecework approach, a lack of overall, long-term design. The graphic below shows how. Follow the letters on the image from Google Earth:
A. The original building, off Schouler Court, now called Fusco House, was built in 1914 and had some renovation in 1981.
B. The current main office was built 1938 and underwent some renovation in 1981.
C. The section called Collomb House was built 1938 and had some renovation in 1981.
D. Lowe Auditorium, the school’s performance space, was also built 1938 underwent some renovation in 1981.
E. Toward Peirce Field, Downs House was built 1964 and has had no significant renovation.
F. The Links Building, which connects Downs and Lowe, went up in 1981 has not been renovated.
G. Offices and the cafeteria were built 1960s.
H. The Red Gym went up in 1981.
I. The Blue Gym and its locker rooms were built in 1960 and were renovated in 1981.
This story was published Tuesday, March 4, 2014.
