MSBA Provides Five Model School Options for Dale Project

At its recent meeting with the Massachusetts School Building Authority, Medfield was given the opportunity to provide a 20-minute description of the Dale Street School project, and hear MSBA feedback on the potential for Medfield to participate in the "Model School" program.

During the Medfield presentation, Arrowstreet design team members presented information about the proposed Dale Street School design as it related to the educational plan, and fielded feedback from members of the MSBA Facility Assessment Subcommittee.

Among the design objectives shared with MSBA were ones that seemed to seek to replicate an environment that currently exists with the Dale Street School, including:

• Creating a "small-school feel" (a challenging task with 13 homerooms which one subcommittee member noted could be overwhelming);
• Establishing a "main street" concept to provide a sense of community (without a true downtown); and
• Accommodating programming that would "celebrate the independence unique to the developmental needs of 4th and 5th graders" (but without the freedom to explore away from adults).

To help districts prepare for their Facility Assessment Subcommittee presentation, MSBA published a document that provided common topics of discussion as guidance. But missing from the actual discussion were questions or comments related to environmental impacts, accessibility and facility costs. Specific examples as they relate to the Wheelock site include:

• Sustainability plans specific to water flow and loss of water absorption caused by the introduction of impervious surfaces like parking lots (to accommodate an estimate of more than 240 cars).
• Year-round maintenance costs, including "care and use during non-school time" of outdoor spaces, including snow removal measures (especially important in a sensitive watershed area).
• Staffing costs related to special needs programming, as well as maker spaces/breakout rooms (the design incorporates a number of extra spaces not reimbursable by MSBA).

Program Offers Variety of Model Schools

During its recent meeting, MSBA informed Medfield that it could proceed with exploring the Model School program as an alternative to its current design, if desired. According to MSBA, the program provides an option to "adapt and re-use the design of successful, recently constructed Pre-K through 12th grade schools."

Five MSBA Model Schools are available for Medfield consideration:

Andover - Bancroft Elementary School (680 students)

Burlington -- Memorial Elementary School (480 students)

Lexington -- Estabrook Elementary School (540 students)

New Bedford -- Lincoln Elementary School (600 students)

Norfolk -- Freeman-Kennedy Elementary School (585 students)

Several years ago MSBA discontinued its incentive points for districts that used a Model School design. However, MSBA notes that design fee savings, a compressed project schedule, and predictability of costs and performance are still possible benefits. Medfield would also have the chance to see and assess Model Schools firsthand before selecting a design.

Some School Committee members have been lukewarm to the idea of exploring a Model School, which was requested by Board of Selectmen as a possible cost-saving avenue. School Building Committee members have also expressed concerns that costs and time savings will not materialize, and that aggressive energy conservation goals will become unattainable.

The School Building Committee, Board of Selectmen and School Committee are scheduled to discuss the Dale Street Project and Model School option on Wednesday, Feb. 3. It is unclear if (or how much) public input will be allowed during the meeting.

Traffic Forum is Feb. 1

On a related note, the School Building Committee is hosting a public forum via Zoom on Monday, Feb. 1 to discuss results of the community traffic survey.

No response was provided when asked on two separate occasions if comments during the forum will be accepted from residents living beyond the SBC narrowly defined "Wheelock Neighborhood" even though survey responses came from a wider geographic area. Some residents who had attended the first forum never got their questions or concerns addressed even though they live in the heavily trafficked corridor between Blake Middle School, Medfield High School and Wheelock School -- an area predicted to be hard hit by the proposed relocation of Dale Street School to Elm Street.

Once posted, forum information should appear on the Town of Medfield website calendar here.