Watertown Public Schools Facilities Study June 24, 2013

Watertown Public Schools Facilities Study Group Members Anne Hardiman Beth Lloyd Phyllis Marshall Tony Paolillo Jay Francione

Watertown Public Schools Facilities Study Key Actions 1) Form facilities study group 2) Gather current building status for each building (capacity, utilization, functionality) 3) Study enrollment trends 4) Identify future needs 5) Evaluate current capacity/functionality to meet future needs 6) Create presentation of findings for the School Committee

Watertown Public Schools Facilities Study Instructional spaces: 49 Small & large gymnasiums Auditorium Layout – “You can’t get there from here”, and original design of newer section Ever increasing R&M in old West Jr High section Watertown Middle School Opened: 1922 Last Renovation: 1998 Square Footage: 133,410 Enrollment: 545

Watertown Public Schools Facilities Study Instructional spaces 31 Gymnasium Cafetorium Utilizing every available space James Russell Lowell School Opened: 1927 Last Renovation: 1997 Square Footage: 82,500 Enrollment: 413

Watertown Public Schools Facilities Study Instructional spaces: 66 Gymnasium Auditorium Fitness Center Aged infrastructure that fails unpredictably Inadequate technology infrastructure Parking Watertown High School Opened: 1930 Last Renovation: 1998 Square Footage: 162,000 Enrollment: 744

Watertown Public Schools Facilities Study Instructional spaces: 25 Gymnasium Cafetorium Utilizing all available space 1999 addition was engineered so as to enable construction of a second floor Cunniff School Opened: 1954 Last Renovation: 1999 Square Footage: 58,400 Enrollment: 284

Watertown Public Schools Facilities Study Instructional spaces: 47 Small & large gymnasiums Auditorium Inadequate space to accommodate enrollment & instructional needs; using every available space for instruction Layout Hosmer School Opened: 1967 Last Renovation: 2002 Square Footage: 102,682 Enrollment:

Watertown Public Schools Facilities Study Source: Massachusetts School Building Authority

Watertown Public Schools Facilities Study Future Needs Additional classroom/instruction space Break out space Technology System upgrades Increased maintenance Storage

Watertown Public Schools Facilities Study Current capacity/functionality to meet future needs All school buildings are currently being creatively used so as to meet the needs of our students and current programs All school buildings have issues as to whether or not they are adequate for 21 st century learning Any possible expansion of existing school facilities to address space needs for enrollment increases and programs would require the need for swing space to house current students during construction

Watertown Public Schools Facilities Study Possible Next Steps Do nothing – we live with our buildings as they are Engage with Town Council and Town Administration immediately to determine how best to move ahead with a comprehensive study of our Schools The Town is in the midst of a Comprehensive Plan Project, its first since This Project could serve as the vehicle for the aforementioned comprehensive study of our Schools. Thought to ponder from one of my colleagues – “What we have in Watertown are buildings that were designed when factories were key employers after high school. Media meant newspapers and the term "wireless" referred to radios. There was no TV, no internet, no hand held smart devices. We don't live in that world any longer, but the design of our buildings would suggest we do. Imagine you had to work in an office that was "state of the art" in because that is the newest of our buildings in Watertown.”