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VILLAGE
SCHOOL REPAIR PROJECT Q&A November 19, 2008
This Q&A is a “living” document, meaning it will be updated on
a regular basis. The information has been compiled by the Village Building Oversight
Committee in conjunction with Symmes Maini & McKee Associates, Municipal
Building Consultants, and school administrators. Please notify your building
principal if you have comments/additional questions.
Village School front office: 781-639-3159
Village School principal: Lisa Bryant; Village School assistant principal: Danielle
Cherry
A listing of Village staff is available by visiting: http://vil.marbleheadschools.org/faculty
MVMS front office: 781-639-3120
MVMS principal: Libby Moore; MVMS assistant principal: Tom Desjardins
A listing of MVMS staff is available by visiting: http://mvms.marbleheadschools.org/faculty
The Q&A is divided into the following sections:
Glossary
A. Village School Repair Project: Funding
B. Village School Repair Project: Construction (including construction phases)
C. The 4th and 5th grade at Village During Phase 1 and Phase 2
D. The 6th, 7th, and 8th grade at MVMS (focusing primarily on 6th grade)
E. 4th, 5th, and 6th Grade: Shared Concerns
F. Transportation and Traffic
G. Further Information and Project Updates
GLOSSARY
ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act
CD: Curriculum Director
CORI: Criminal Offender Record Information
GC: general contractor
KVA: KVAssociates, the OPM used for the
initial design/planning of the project (June to September,
2008)
MBC: Municipal Building Consultants, the OPM brought on board October, 2008,
to replace KVA
MEP: mechanical/engineering/plumbing
MPS: Marblehead Public Schools
MSBA: Massachusetts School Building Authority
MVMS: Marblehead Veterans Middle School
OPM: Owner’s Project Manager
PAC: The Performing Arts Center at MVMS
RFS, RFP: Request for Services, Request for Proposal
SMMA: Symmes Maini & McKee Associates, the project’s
architectural firm
VAT: Vinyl asbestos tiling (floor)
VBOC: Village Building Oversight Committee, Michael Rockett, chairman
A. VILLAGE SCHOOL REPAIR PROJECT: FUNDING
A1) The state is
facing dramatic budget cutbacks: will the funding for
the Village project be reduced or withdrawn?
This is not likely. On October 14, 2008,
at a meeting with architects, Katherine Craven (executive
director of the MSBA) stated that the MSBA portion of the
MA sales tax revenues (one cent of the five cents sales
tax) allocated for the MSBA’s
FY08 - FY11 projects are in place. The Village project is an FY08 project; its
funding is secure. As stated at Marblehead’s
May 2008 Town Meeting, the VBOC will review the project budget with the MSBA
in order to determine the exact amount of reimbursement the project will qualify
for (approximately 40% of the project’s $21.77M
cost). The exact amount of reimbursement will be codified
in the Project Funding Agreement that the Town will sign
with the MSBA in late November, 2008.
B. VILLAGE SCHOOL REPAIR PROJECT: CONSTRUCTION
B1) When did the project start, and what’s
its status right now?
The Village School is Marblehead’s upper elementary
school for the town’s
4th grade (presently 263 students), 5th grade (presently
251 students), and 6th grade (presently 222 students).
There are 48 teachers plus additional support, administrative,
and part-time staff. The school consists of a 1955/57 single-story
building and a 1967 three-story wing. Project preparation
began in January 2008, when it was determined that the
Village School’s
heating system was truly on its last legs. A building oversight
committee (the VBOC) was formed to oversee the project.
The scope of work is based on the Village School Facility
Master Plan Reports done in 2003 and 2004 (SMMA was hired
as consultant for the reports), and the deteriorating condition
of the heating system. The focus of the project is to replace
the heating system, MEP systems, the single-pane windows,
the lighting fixtures, the ceilings, and the roof. In April
of 2008, the MSBA agreed to accept the Village School as
the Town’s
priority project and fund no less than 40% of eligible
costs of the repairs, subject to MSBA procedures and votes.
After the repair project received votes in the affirmative
at Marblehead’s
May 2008 Town Meeting and the June Proposition 2½ debt
exclusion vote, the VBOC followed MSBA procedure and hired
the project OPM, initially KVAssociates (KVA), and the
project architect, Symmes Maini & McKee
Associates (SMMA) in order to develop the schedule and
construction documents (primarily MEP) necessary to reach
a Project Funding Agreement with the MSBA in November,
and then bid the project and hire a general contractor
to begin Phase 1A construction in February, 2009.
In early July, 2008, as soon as the
MSBA approved the hiring of SMMA, work on design, and then
construction drawings commenced and will continue through
the fall of 2008. Given the extensive heating and MEP work
necessary throughout the building, it was determined that
the 6th grade should be relocated to the Marblehead Veterans
Middle School (MVMS) for the duration of the construction
phases. This will allow the 4th and 5th grades to remain
in sections of the Village School that will be walled off
from the construction areas (see B2 for phase descriptions).
Project
preparation work has included initial asbestos abatement,
completed in August, 2008, and procurement of the modular
classrooms necessary at MVMS to house four of the 6th grade
classes. The rest of the 6th grade classrooms will be clustered
on a 1st floor wing of MVMS which will be made available
by moving the MVMS music, world language, Family Center,
computer, and project library programs to other parts of
the MVMS building. (See Section D for more information
regarding the 6th grade at MVMS). Preparation has also
focused on submitting materials to the MSBA to receive
Project Funding Agreement approval, and preparation of
detailed bid documents to procure items such as the new
boilers. The details of the RFS for the general contractor
and sub-bids are critical to ensuring that the project
will proceed on-time and on-budget to completion. The OPM
and the architect play critical roles in advising the VBOC.
By the end of September 2008, the VBOC was unable to reach
a contractual agreement with its initial OPM, KVA. KVA,
concerned about specific contract wording, would not sign
the MSBA’s
OPM contract, leaving the VBOC in an untenable position.
The VBOC notified KVA that it was discontinuing contract
negotiations. After consultation with the MSBA, the VBOC
began discussions with its 2nd ranked OPM firm, Municipal
Building Consultants, Inc. (MBC). The VBOC and MBC met
with the MSBA’s
OPM selection panel on October 20, 2008, and subsequently
signed the MSBA’s
OPM contract. MBC has done an excellent job of getting
up to speed on the project and is serving the Town well.
B2) How many construction phases
will there be, and what work will done where/when?
The VBOC has an aggressive mind set towards condensing
the project schedule and thus minimizing the project’s
costs and impact on student education. However, the construction
must be realistically phased in order to achieve successful
outcomes. Working closely with SMMA and MBC, the VBOC will
provide the general contractor with incentives to meet
early deadlines and complete the project in an optimum
period of time. However, it is understood that the schedule
and phasing must take into account items including documentation,
mobilization, and procurement of sub-bids; trying to impose
too aggressive a schedule will in fact add to the project
costs and prolong the schedule. Generally speaking, the
construction day will begin at 7AM and end at 3:30PM, Mon. – Fri.
There may be work on weekends, but until the GC is hired
and the job is underway, this will not be determined.
PHASES 1A, 1B of CONSTRUCTION
There
are several moves that have been, and will be, made in
preparation for Phase 1 construction. The 4th and 5th graders
began this school year on the 2nd and 3rd floors above
the cafeteria in the Village School’s
three-story 1967 wing. The 6th graders began this school
year in the Village School’s single-story
building (where the 4th grade has traditionally been located).
The 6th grade classroom materials will be moved to MVMS
over the December, 2008, winter break. After winter break,
the 6th grade will occupy MVMS rooms on the 1st floor wing
parallel to Pleasant Street, in addition to four modular
classrooms that will be located in the parking lot across
from the Performing Arts Center (PAC). The modulars will
arrive at MVMS in December. The 6th graders will have full
access to the MVMS facilities (library, cafeteria, the
PAC, the playing fields) along with the 7th and 8th graders.
Also over the winter break, the administrative offices
for the Village School personnel (principal, assistant
principal, guidance, nurse, main office staff, reading
tutors, English Language Arts CD and Special Education
staff) will be moved to the Village School front cafeteria.
The exterior doors at the cafeteria entrance will be the
main entrance to the school. The rear cafeteria will operate
for breakfast and lunch and will be accessed by the 4th
and 5th grade students via the rear stairs (and the elevator
as necessary).
Phase 1A: This includes work in all of the single-story building
(except the gym wing), and is slated to begin in February,
2009. It will be completed no later than December, 2009.
During January, 2009, there will be pre-construction work
underway that will most likely preclude any use of vacated
classrooms (such as the band room). The educational spaces
of the three-story wing and the gym wing will be completely
sealed off from the construction area by erecting sound/dust
isolating walls (see B7). The gym wing will include rooms
for the temporary library, technology, language- based
and PACE SPED programs. The art program will be “on
a cart,” meaning
that art classes will be conducted in the students’ regular
classrooms. (Refer to section C for further explanation).
There will be a safe, clearly marked walkway designated
for students/teachers between the gym wing and the cafeteria
entrance of the three-story wing. Barriers may be used
to separate the walkway from vehicles.
Phase 1A construction will include removing
the heating system piping, lights, ceilings, and windows.
There will be a new heating and ventilation system, and
new wiring (including technology). Compliance with accessibility
codes (including ADA) will include widening some classroom
doorways. The roof for the entire building will be replaced,
and this work will commence in Phase 1A. Once the contractor
has installed the isolating walls at the start of Phase
1A, flooring, pipe insulation, and duct insulation will
be removed, some of which contains asbestos. The asbestos
abatement work will be consistently and appropriately monitored
for air quality, and will meet all safety standards (see
B3).
Phase 1B: This phase addresses
work in the gym wing, to be done over the summer of 2009
when the building is empty. The gym wing will be ready
for use in September, 2009. The GC’s incentive date
for completion of all Phase 1 is early August, 2009. This
is a very aggressive timetable. If the 1955 building’s
work is not completed by August, 2009, the 4th, 5th and
6th grades will remain at their designated locations for
the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year. All Phase 1
work will be completed no later than December, 2009. Only
when Phase 1 is completed will the 4th and 5th grades move
back into the original 1955 one-story building. The 6th
grade will remain at MVMS until Phase 2 is completed, and
depending on that date, the 6th grade will either move
back to Village, or stay at MVMS for the remainder of the
2009-2010 school year.
PHASE 2 CONSTRUCTION
Phase
2: This work will commence immediately upon completion
of Phase 1, and includes work on all three floors of the
three-story wing. There will be a new heating and ventilation
system, and new wiring (including technology). The main
entrance to the school will change to Village Street, and
the construction crews will access the three-story wing
via the cafeteria entrance. Because the main components
of the plumbing, HVAC and electrical systems will be installed
in Phase 1A, and because much of the Phase 2 piping in
the three-story wing is “stacked,” the
time necessary for Phase 2 construction is greatly reduced.
During Phase 2, the 4th and 5th grades will NOT have access
to the cafeteria, and the kitchen will be closed. Students
will either bring cold lunch to school, or have the option
of purchasing a box lunch through the district’s
Lunch Program. Students will eat either in their classrooms
or in another designated area. Student swill still have
access to the playground area for recess. The physical
education program will be reviewed to ensure that students
use field space without walking too close to the GC’s
work site.
For Phase
2, there is tentative discussion of reversing the direction
of traffic for the access road so that it is one way from
Village to Jersey Street. The VBOC will discuss traffic
issues with the Marblehead Police department before any
decisions are finalized. Student safety is the top priority.
The general contractor’s incentive date for completion
of Phase 2 work will be December, 2009. All Phase 2 work
will be completed no later than the summer of 2010 so that
grades 4, 5, and 6 can begin the 2010-2011 school year
in all sections of the Village School.
B3) Is there more asbestos abatement work to be done? If
so, when?
Asbestos abatement is highly specialized work, carried
out by a certified subcontractor, in strict accordance
with state and DEP regulations. There are two types of
abatement. The first involves insulation on piping that
will be removed from the below-floor heating system, the
boiler room, and limited above- floor pipe insulation.
The second source of asbestos is the floor VAT (vinyl asbestos
tiling). The VAT is not friable and does not pose any risks.
In a large portion of the building, this VAT has been encapsulated
(covered over) by non-asbestos vinyl tile and will remain
that way. But in high traffic areas, where steam has repeatedly
warped the vinyl tiles and they will be replaced, the VAT
will be abated at the same time. The first round of asbestos
abatement was done in August, 2008, before the beginning
of school. It focused on the removal of asbestos insulation
on below-floor piping in the 1955 building. Additional
asbestos abatement will be carried out only at the start
of each phase of the project. During all asbestos abatement
work, an industrial hygienist will be on site to review
the abatement activities, inspect the isolating sound/dust
proof walls, perform air quality testing in the occupied
areas to ensure isolation is maintained, and perform air
quality testing in the abatement areas to ensure that each
area has received DEP clearance prior to the start of construction
work.
B4) Where will the construction entrance be located?
For Phases 1A and 1B, the front of the building (Village
Street) will serve as the “hub” of the construction
activity. During that time, the school’s
Village Street front entrance and traffic circle will be
open to construction personnel and vehicles ONLY. The logistics
for construction issues including personnel parking, and
the delivery of materials to the site, are being reviewed.
Construction deliveries will be scheduled so as not to
coincide with the beginning or the end of the school day.
(See B10). For Phase 2, the construction hub will be relocated
to an area closer to the cafeteria entrance of the three-story
wing. Construction workers will generally leave the site
on weekdays at 3:30PM. Their vehicles will be parked in
the rear of the school, possibly near the Hopkins Field
parking area. Teachers and administrators will discuss
with parents the best walking routes for students to use
if leaving the school site and walking home at that time.
B5) Where will the main entrance for students and visitors
be located?
During Phase 1, the main entrance to the school will be
the set of doors next to the front cafeteria along the
access road, across from the lower playing fields. This
is presently the common entrance/exit for 4th and 5th grade
students, so their routine will remain the same. During
Phase 1, the main office will be located in the front cafeteria,
directly adjacent to this main entrance. Visitors to the
Village School will be asked to check in at the main office.
They will be issued a VISITOR pass for access to the school
areas. They will NOT be allowed access to the construction
site. During Phase 2, the main entrance for the school
will revert to the Village Street entrance. As mentioned
in B4, the hub of the construction activity will be relocated
to a location closer to the three-story wing, where the
Phase 2 construction will be taking place. The VBOC is
aware of the need for sufficient parking for staff and
visitors during all phases of construction.
B6) What security measures will be in place for construction
workers?
Access to all parts of the construction site/school will
be strictly monitored by our OPM. The areas of the building
that will be under construction will be walled off from
the school sections (see B7). All workers must pass a CORI
check before they are allowed on the site. All construction
personnel will wear color-coded photo ID badges. For instance,
a RED badge would allow access to construction areas only.
A YELLOW badge would allow access to construction areas
and limited peripheral areas of the school. A GREEN badge,
for construction supervisors and SMMA/MBC personnel, would
allow access to all areas of the Village complex. Visitors
to the Village School will be asked to check in at the
main office (front cafeteria). They will be issued a VISITOR
pass for access to the school areas. Visitors will NOT
be allowed access to the construction site.
Construction workers will
generally leave the site on weekdays at 3:30PM. During
Phase 2, when their vehicles will be parked in the rear
of the school, possibly near the Hopkins Field parking
area, they will walk along the rear of the school. Teachers
and administrators will discuss with parents the best walking
routes for students to use when leaving the school site
and walking home at that time.
B7) What about air quality? Will there be fumes and dust
from construction entering the school areas?
The occupied zone(s) of the school will
be completely separated from the construction zone by erecting
dust/sound isolating walls. During each construction phase,
the indoor air quality will be monitored by an industrial
hygienist to ensure that the occupied portions of the building
meet air quality standards. Each construction zone will
have exhaust fans with HEPA filters to keep the construction
area under negative pressure with respect to the occupied
zone(s). Also see B8 below.
B8) How will the air exchange and the heating systems work
for the school areas?
During Phase 1, the HVAC system in the 1967 wing will operate
the same way as it does now,
meaning the current boilers will provide heat and the current
unit ventilators will supply fresh air. When
Phase 1 is complete, the students will move into the 1955/57
building with its completely new heating and
ventilation systems.
B9) What about construction noise? How will that be controlled/monitored?
Our OPM will be on site all day every day and will monitor
construction activities. Excessive noise
resulting from interior construction will be controlled
and will be mitigated by the building’s existing
walls
and roof, as well as the isolating walls. The Phase 1 exterior
work, namely the replacement of the windows
and roof, will be scheduled/performed in order to minimize
the impact to school operations.
B10) How will Village concerns/issues be handled?
Teachers will take all concerns to Lisa Bryant or Danielle
Cherry. A Teacher Task Force has been meeting with them
on a regular basis to address questions and concerns. They
in turn resolve the issues and/or, as necessary, take issues
to the superintendent or the VBOC. Connie Cooney, a 5th
grade teacher, serves on the VBOC. There is also a Parent
Task Force, which meets with Lisa Bryant on a regular basis
to discuss educational program issues.
The VBOC, in conjunction
with SMMA and MBC, is presently reviewing traffic issues,
including determining where construction vehicles will
park, how/when construction vehicles will access the property
(for all construction phases), the schedule/protocols for
delivery of construction- related materials, and traffic
flow (pedestrian and vehicle) for student drop off and
pickup.
C. THE 4TH AND 5TH GRADE AT VILLAGE SCHOOL DURING PHASE
I
C1) At Village, where will the band/orchestra
meet? What about art? And EDUs?
There have been many planning
meetings with Beth Delforge, the district’s
Arts Curriculum Director, as well as the music staff. Everyone
is working diligently to maintain the integrity of all
programs for both Village and MVMS.
The following arrangements for
Village are tentative:
• Band and Orchestra will each meet in the rear cafeteria and gym-wing rooms.
• Chorus will meet in the gym-wing rooms.
• General music will meet in the rear cafeteria, except during lunch, when
it will meet in an unoccupied
classroom.
• Art will be held in the classrooms, with the art teacher bringing materials
on a cart.
• EDU technology and other EDUs will meet in unoccupied classrooms.
C2) Where will the Village library collection be located?
The library collection for grades 4 and 5 will be relocated
to a room in the gym wing (previously used for music).
Books that are specifically geared towards 6th grade students will be moved
to the 6th grade classrooms (see D18).
C3) Where will the computer/tech room be located? Will
construction interfere with buying Smart Boards? Is there
a technology component to the project?
To date, the Village School has seven mobile
Smart Boards. During the construction project, one of these
will be assigned to Grade 6 at MVMS for use on the 1st
floor wing. At Village, one Smart Board will be in the
library, and one will be in the general music area (the
rear cafeteria). Three Smart Boards will be distributed
to the 4th and 5th grade classrooms. The computer/tech
lab, located in the gym wing, will have 26 computer terminals
and one Smart Board.
The fundraising
for Smart Boards will continue concurrent with the construction
project. The construction project itself includes an upgrade
of all building wiring and technology infrastructure so
that any items like Smart Boards will be fully supported
when they are plugged in.
C4) Where will the 4th and 5th graders be located in the
fall of 2009?
Please refer to answer B2 for this information.
C5) What work is being done in the 1967 wing, and when?
Please refer to answer B2 for Phase 2 information.
C6) Will breakfast still be available at Village?
Yes. During Phase 1, breakfast will be offered from 7:30AM
to 7:50AM. 4th and 5th grade students will enter the rear
cafeteria via the outside doors at the north end of the
three-story wing (closest to Hopkins Field), not the main
entrance by the front cafeteria. (All METCO students in
grades K-8 will eat breakfast at MVMS before being transported
to their respective schools).
During Phase 2, when the cafeteria and
the kitchen are closed, the breakfast program will be modified
(information to come).
D. THE 6TH, 7TH, and 8TH GRADE AT MVMS
6th grade parents
are invited to visit MVMS on Thursday, December 11, between
8:15AM and 10AM. MVMS parents will be on-hand to conduct
tours and answer questions. Parents will have an opportunity
to see the entire school including the cafeteria, gyms,
library, PAC, and grounds. If the modular classrooms are
on site and operational, they too will be included in the
tour. 6th grade students will visit MVMS for a “Step
Up” session on Wednesday,
December 17, in the morning. They will be divided into
smaller groups and be given tours of the school and their
specific classroom areas.
D1) Where will the 6th graders’ four
modular classrooms be located?
The four modular classrooms will be located in the parking
lot next to the tennis courts, across from the PAC. Each
modular classroom measures 28’ x 32’,
and each has exterior windows. There is a six-foot wide
hallway, with two classrooms on each side.
D2) Will the modulars have rest rooms and bubblers? If
not, what facilities will those students/staff use?
The modulars do NOT have bathrooms or bubblers. Students
will use the bathrooms right inside the PAC entrance, where
there are also bubblers.
D3) Which 6th graders will be in the modulars?
The Halverson-Wicks and the Blodgett-LeBlanc teams will
occupy the four modular classrooms.
D4) How will the safety/security of students in the modular
classrooms be managed?
The 6th Grade teachers whose classes are housed in the
modulars will wear their ID badges (as do all school staff)
and also carry keys that allow them to lock their classrooms
for those times when the modulars will be unoccupied. The
teachers’ keys will
also open the MVMS PAC lobby entrance doors.
D5) Where will the other 6th grade classrooms be located?
The first-floor wing that runs parallel (and closest to)
Pleasant Street will house the bulk of the 6th grade classrooms.
All 6th graders will use the library, cafeteria, gyms and
fields, along with the 7th and 8th graders. In addition
to 6th grade classrooms on the 1st floor, the 6th grade
Language-Based SPED program will be located on the 3rd
floor, near the 7th and 8th grade Language-Based program.
D6) Will the “specials” teachers travel from
Village to MVMS for 6th grade classes?
Yes they will. The specialist classes will be held in the
gym, art, and music rooms, as well as the PAC and the regular
education classrooms.
D7) What will the 6th graders’ schedule
be like?
The 6th graders will follow the same schedule that they
had at Village. 6th grade lunch at MVMS will be held from
11:10 to 11:40AM and will be supervised by Village staff.
(See E3 for information regarding after-school programs.)
D8) Will the 7th and 8th graders’ schedules
be affected by the 6th grade schedule?
The 7th and 8th grade schedules will remain as they are.
Given the addition of 222 6th grade students plus faculty
sharing the school’s facilities, there
will be adjustments for everyone. These adjustments include
relocating present 1st floor classroom programs (i.e. world
language and specials) to other classroom spaces that will
be used by multiple teachers (not at the same time).
D9) Will 6th grade lunch prices at MVMS remain the same
as they are at Village?
Yes.
D10) How will MVMS lunches be scheduled?
MVMS lunch schedules for the 7th and 8th grades will remain
the same. 6th grade lunch will be held from 11:10 to 11:40AM
and will be supervised by Village staff.
D11) Will 6th grade students have recess at MVMS?
Yes. Recess will either be held outside in the front circle
next to the PAC, or on the tennis courts adjacent to the
modular classrooms. There is an initiative to install a
few basketball hoops at one end of the courts. In the case
of inclement weather, recess will be held in classrooms
(as is presently the case).
D12) Which principal and guidance staff will be responsible
for the 6th graders?
Either Lisa Bryant, or Danielle Cherry, or one of the two
Village School guidance counselors (Jeff Newsome and Mandy
Devaney) will be present at MVMS from 7:45AM to 2:45PM
each day. They will have a 1st floor office. Jeff Newsome
will be the primary counselor for 6th graders at MVMS.
Mandy Devaney will primarily stay at Village to cover the
4th and 5th grades, but will also support 6th graders in
a secondary role.
D13) When will the school day begin/end for the 6th, 7th
and 8th graders?
The 6th graders’ school day will begin at 8AM and
end at 2:15PM. The 7th and 8th graders’ school day
will begin at 8AM and end at 2:30PM.
D14) How will 6th graders enter school? Will they gather
somewhere before going to their classrooms?
The first morning bell for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders will
be at 7:50AM. 6th grade students arriving by car will enter
the PAC entrance from the rear parking lot and gather in
the PAC lobby until the 7:50 bell. 7th and 8th grade students
arriving by car will enter the school from the back parking
lot and gather in the cafeteria (as is presently the case).
6th graders arriving by car should NOT be dropped off next
to the modulars; they should be driven to the rear drop-off
area. Only if students are walking or riding to school
should 6th graders enter the PAC lobby from the front of
the building (there are bike racks in front of the PAC
for securing bicycles). Once gathered in the PAC lobby,
6th grade students will go to their classrooms with their
teachers at 8AM.
D15) How will 6th graders be dismissed, and where will
they exit?
6th graders will be dismissed at 2:15PM. Pickup will be
at the designated area at the back of the school and will
follow the same routine as for the 7th and 8th graders.
All students walking or riding bikes should exit the school
property either along Vine Street or Pleasant Street and
should cross the street by using the cross walks manned
by the crossing guards.
D16) Will there be a bell at 2:15PM that could potentially
disrupt the other grades or will the 6th grade teachers
simply watch the clock?
There
will be no bell at 2:15PM. Teachers will watch the clock
and prepare their students for dismissal. MVMS does not
use bells during the school day. The only bells will be
at 7:50AM, 8AM, and 2:30PM.
D17) Since the 2009-2010 6th grade population is larger
than the current one, will additional modular classrooms
be necessary to rent?
No.
There is sufficient capacity to accommodate the 2009-2010
6th graders in the designated rooms and modulars at MVMS.
D18) Will there be library materials at MVMS for the 6th
graders?
Specific 6th grade library materials will be placed in
6th grade classrooms for specific projects. 6th grade library
classes will be conducted at MVMS just as they were at
Village. 6th graders may check out books from the MVMS
library.
D19) Will the 6th graders still go to Bournedale?
Yes they will. The dates for the 2009 Bournedale trip are
May 19 to May 22.
E. 4th, 5th, AND 6th GRADE: SHARED CONCERNS
E1) Will the Village nurse support both Village and the
6th graders at MVMS, or will the 6th graders fall under
the care of the MVMS nurse?
Presently, Village has a full-time
nurse and a half-time nurse. The half-time nurse will relocate
to MVMS with the 6th grade. For the hours that the half-time
nurse is not at MVMS, the MVMS nurse will be responsible
for addressing 6th graders’ medical needs.
E2) Where will Village School performances take place?
Village School performances will be held either at the
PAC, Marblehead High School, or possibly Abbot Hall. Parents
and students will be notified well in advance of all performance
arrangements.
E3) Where will the after-school programs
take place? If they’re not at
Village, how will the 4th and 5th graders get to the program
location(s)?
A notice will be circulated stating the meeting places
for after-school activities as soon as they are all determined.
Transportation to after-school programs will be the responsibility
of parents. Below is a partial list of activities and their
location status.
Computer Club, 6th grade: Location to
be determined.
Math Olympiad: The majority of participating
students are 6th graders, therefore it makes sense to hold
the meetings at MVMS. However, participants will be consulted
before a final decision is made.
Literary Magazine: Meetings will alternate
between Village and MVMS.
Science League: Meetings will be held
at Village since almost all of the participants are 4th
graders.
Community Leadership: This program is
open to 6th graders only. It will meet at MVMS.
After-School Sports: All sports will take
place at Village.
Student Council: Location to be determined.
Music: Location to be determined.
E4) How will Special Education programs for grades 4-6
be configured once the 6th grade is at MVMS?
Administrators have been meeting with teachers and parents
to address implementation of the Special Education (SPED)
programs for 6th grade students. The following is an overview
of SPED programs that will be operating at MVMS and Village.
The 4th and 5th grade programs at Village will remain as
they are.
TIDES: There will be one MVMS classroom
for 8th grade students and a separate MVMS classroom for
6th and 7th grade students (1st floor).
Academic Skills: There will be one MVMS
classroom for 6th grade students (1st floor).
Language Based: There will be one MVMS
classroom for 6th grade students and a separate classroom
for 7th and 8th grade students (3rd floor).
PACE: This 6th grade program will remain
at Village.
STEPS: This 6th grade program will be
customized to meet the specific needs of the students due
to the low number of students and will be implemented at
MVMS.
There will be two inclusion teachers and
curriculum support staff at MVMS for the 6th grade.
E5) Is there breakfast for students at MVMS?
MVMS breakfast will be available from 7:15AM to 7:45AM.
The METCO students in grades K-8 also eat breakfast at
MVMS. Breakfast for 4th and 5th grade students will continue
at the Village (see C6).
F. TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC
F1) How will the current
bus route change to accommodate the 6th graders going to
MVMS (both morning and afternoon)?
The bus route will not change. As is the present routine
for MVMS students, the Marblehead and METCO buses will
stop on Pleasant Street at Gerry Street so that students
can cross with the crossing guard to walk up the hill to
MVMS along with students who walk and ride their bikes
to school. The reverse is true for the afternoon bus; in
the afternoon the bus will pick up riders on the school
side of Pleasant Street.
F2) What if I’m late for pickup
at Village or MVMS? Where will my child go?
4th and 5th grade students will be instructed to wait in
the Village rear cafeteria. 6th grade students will be
instructed to either wait outside in the back of MVMS at
the pickup area, or in case of inclement/cold weather,
inside the building by the back door (next to the cafeteria).
F3) What about traffic flow at Village during drop off
and pick up?
As mentioned in answer B10, the VBOC, in conjunction with
SMMA and MBC, is presently reviewing traffic issues, including
determining where construction vehicles will park, how/when
construction vehicles will access the property (for all
construction phases), the schedule/protocols for delivery
of construction-related materials, and traffic flow (pedestrian
and vehicle) for student drop off and pickup. For Phase
2, there is tentative discussion of reversing the direction
of traffic for the access road so that it is one-way from
Village to Jersey Street. The VBOC will discuss traffic
issues with the Marblehead Police department before any
decisions are finalized. Student safety is the top priority.
As mentioned in answer B2, there will be a safe, very clearly
marked walkway designated for students/teachers between
the gym wing and the cafeteria entrance of the three-story
wing. Barriers may be used to separate the walkway from
vehicles.
F4) What about traffic flow at MVMS during drop off and
pick up?
Parents are urged to discuss walking routes to and from
MVMS with their children in order to reduce
traffic congestion at the school. If you would like suggestions
about this, contact the front office at MVMS.
Also, please refer to answers D14 and D15 for additional
detailed information about drop off/pick up.
G. FURTHER INFORMATION AND PROJECT
UPDATES
Maps, project timelines and project schedule
information will be posted/updated on the web and also
via MVMS and Village written notices which will be sent
home via backpack as follows:
Grades 4, 5 (Village) and Grade 6
(MVMS): written notices
will be sent home via backpack on Thursdays.
Grades 7 and 8 (MVMS): written notices will be sent home
via backpack on Wednesdays.
Village posts notices at its “Daily Bulletin” section:
http://vil.marbleheadschools.org/Daily%20Bulletin/
MVMS posts notices on the MVMS website: http://mvms.marbleheadschools.org/
For VBOC project information, please go to the district
website (Marblehead.com/schools/villproject) and refer
to the links on the left-hand column. |
