Educational Excerpts from State of the City Address

Mayor David B. Cohen

10/21/02

 

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Our schools are one of the centerpieces of our city, attracting new young families, providing top-notch educational services and serving as an anchor in securing a strong community. Although we are one of the largest systems in the state, our test scores, college placement percentages and overall level of academic achievement consistently rank us equal to or better than the smallest, most elite systems in the state.

Our Building Department has done an excellent job working with the School Department, in overseeing the many school building projects that have taken place recently. The re-opening of the Memorial-Spaulding School this past September marks the successful completion of the tier one elementary school renovation program. Three elementary schools, Bowen, Williams and Memorial-Spaulding were renovated on time and within budget.

The Newton South renovation project is proceeding well, and the new wing is scheduled to open in January 2003. The news at Newton North has not been as good. As I recently found out, and many of you already know, our project manager, Turner Construction, has revealed two developments that could affect the course of the project.

First, they estimate the cost of doing everything in the current work plan for North to be five million dollars more than originally anticipated. I am determined, as I believe we all are, to renovate North in a fiscally prudent manner that will give us a high school we can all be proud of. To that end, I have asked the project manager to examine the plan to identify possible efficiencies and changes that we might make. I have also asked Sanford Pooler, the Chief Budget Officer, to re-examine our funding plan to determine whether existing city finances permit us to commit additional resources to this project.

Second, our project manager recommends that for safety reasons the school be vacated during the entire period of the renovations. This is a significant departure from the conceptual plans, which envisioned the building being at least in part occupied during construction. It, of course, raises many questions. As yet we do not have answers to these questions. But I am determined to find them. Working together, with members of the Board of Aldermen, the School Committee, the public and members of the School community, it is my goal to find a way to give our Newton North High School students, during the construction period, the kind of high school experience worthy of the Newton School system. To that end I have directed the Planning Department to assemble an inventory of all available buildings, public and private, in Newton, Waltham, Watertown, Brighton, Brookline, Needham, Wellesley and Weston, which might be considered as sites for our students during the period of construction. I have also asked School Committee Chair, Anne Larner, to select a member of the school community knowledgeable in the field of commercial real estate to assist in this task together with a member of the school administration.

This is an issue that directly affects many in the community. Their input is essential for us to arrive at the best avenue along which to proceed. To that end there will be a meeting at Newton North on October 29th. These issues will be presented in greater detail, and your comments and questions will be appreciated.

These two developments present us with enormous challenges. We will face them as we do every challenge with composure, thoroughness, and a determination to reach a solution that is in keeping with Newton’s commitment to excellence. I know that, working together, this is a challenge we can meet.

Our Building Department has also done an excellent job in preparing the Carr School for this year’s tenant, the Jewish Community Day School, thus enabling us to obtain $196,000 in rent. My thanks to the Real Property Re-Use Committee, and its Chair, Alderman Bryson for their work on this matter.

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We have been awarded a $630,000 grant from the Mass. Renewable Energy Trust Fund for the installation of a 60 kilowatt solar electric power system at Newton South High School, and a $20,000 grant for the study of the use of renewable energy at Newton North.

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The School Department has implemented a comprehensive financial management improvement plan which provides ongoing, systematic oversight of all school spending.

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This Veterans’ Day we will recognize those from Auburndale who served their country, and during Veterans’ week for the third consecutive year, veterans from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam will share their experiences with students from Newton North and South High Schools.