Important Letter to Parents

Special Meeting - Newton North Building Renovation Project

 

Tuesday, October 29 at 7:30pm

Little Theatre, Newton North High School

 

 

October 21, 2002

 

 

Dear Parents,

 

We write today to invite you to an important informational meeting regarding the building renovation project at Newton North High School.  As we enter a planning phase that involves greater detail, we want to be sure that all children and adults who will be affected by the NNHS construction be kept up-to-date on the latest developments.  This special meeting, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 29 in the Little Theatre at NNHS, will be the first in a series of meetings designed to keep the public fully informed about the progress of this project.

 

Two important pieces of information have recently come to light, both of which require us to adjust our thinking and planning.  First, it is the recommendation of the project manager/consultant that NNHS be completely vacated during renovation.  As presently conceived, the project would take at least two years to complete, meaning that all students and staff would need to be re-located for school years 2004/05 and 2005/06.  This latest recommendation is significantly different from the plans originally developed by the architects several years ago.  Safety and health for students and staff are the primary considerations in this matter.

 

Second, the latest estimates for portions of the NNHS project, specifically the renovation of the HVAC system and the need to increase the project contingency from 5% to 10% of the total project cost, have come in at higher levels than previously estimated.  This means that there needs to be further discussion about the scope of the project.

 

There are no easy answers to either of these problems, and in fact we will be stepping back now and determining how best to proceed.  No one questions the legitimate need to renovate NNHS.  Moreover, we are committed to working together to find a responsible solution that meets our two goals: to provide NNHS students and staff with a safe, healthful high school facility that addresses the learning and teaching needs of the future, and to ensure a first class high school experience for all during the period of renovation and construction.  Fortunately, we are two years away from commencing construction, so there is sufficient time to plan.

 

Please join us on October 29.  We look forward to this first opportunity to keep you apprised of this very important project.

 

  

Mayor David Cohen          Chairperson Anne Larner              Superintendent Jeffrey Young