UPDATED, Sept. 23: The School Committee has had its first look at the plan for temporary modular classrooms that will be situated mainly on what is currently blacktop at the Stratton School.

Scot Woodin, project manager for Stratton for DRA Architects of Waltham, called the plan solid but “in its infancy” following what he called a “paradigm shift” from the school administration.

At a meeting at the Ottoson Middle School Thursday, Sept. 10, Woodin was referring to the August change in plans to keep Stratton students, to be displaced by renovation in 2016-17, on school grounds and not move them elsewhere. Since spring, Stratton parents had been firm in their objections to such a move, particularly to permanent modular classrooms at Ottoson.

School Committee members, themselves displaced to the Ottoson media center because the elevator at the high school is undergoing repair, asked questions after Woodin explained the schematic projected on a screen. It shows two wings of classrooms connected by enclosed, 8-foot-wide hallways extending from the area where the school’s garden is nearly to the swing set at the end of the playground. To move between classes, students would not go outside.

Woodin clarified Sept. 23 that each of the two modular wings is made up of multiple modular units.
Woodin said the plans face reviews by the Arlington Fire Department and town building inspector.

As to a vendor, he wrote, “We do not know the name of the company that will be providing the modulars yet. As a public project, it will be competitively bid to multiple companies to get the most competitive pricing from qualified vendors.”

YourArlington had incorrectly reported that he is working with Triumph Modular.

Member Kirsi Allison-Ampe, asked about food service, and was told those details have not yet taken shape.

Member Cindy Starks asked about where the library would be during reconstruction. Principal Michael Hanna said he was looking at space on the auditorium’s stage.

As to construction dust, Woodin said there would be well-controlled construction barriers.

Member Jennifer Susse asked about restoring the play area, and schools’ CFO Diane Johnson said it has been budgeted.

Committee Chairman Paul Schlichtman was concerned about sufficient forums for Stratton parents to ask questions. Superintendent Kathleen Bodie said there would me meetings throughout the project. In addition, the PTO is to meet in October. Hanna said a parent advisory group would reconvene.

Committee members have asked to take a tour of the kind of classroom to be built at Stratton, so they can see firsthand what students can expect.

Stratton is the last of the town’s seven elementary schools to be rebuilt or renovated. The projects began in 1998, but were delayed in 2003, as a recession led to changes in state finding.

Member Bill Hayner, a retired teacher, commented that the year in modular classroom “will be tough on teachers,” but having the students on Stratton grounds is better than having them elsewhere.

Elevator update

In other business, Johnson reported that the estimate to repair the elevator at the high school “to run in the region of $80,000.”

The elevator, which goes to the sixth floor, where administrative offices are, dates to the 1970s. Its lubrication system failed this summer, and replacement parts are no longer made.

Johnson wrote in an email Sept. 11 that “parts are being machined specifically for us.

“Given this, a timeline [for completed repair] is difficult to lock down, but all parties understand the urgency of our need.”

Meetings on the sixth floor, such as the School Committee, have to occur elsewhere because of access issues.

Gibbs issue

During public participation, the committee heard from two people — one expressing “shock” for four tenants about possibly being displaced from the former Gibbs Jr. High School, and another raising questions about class sizes at the Dallin School.

Read comments about the Gibbs by Ted Wilson here >>

Barbara Brandon, a parent of twin first graders at Dallin, said her comments reflect the concern of 53 first-grade parents about class sizes at the school. She
asked why there are not four full-time teachers, as at other schools.

Read her full statement here >>