By NEIL ZOLOT
NORTH READING — The School Committee approved the wording of Article 13, which they will sponsor at October Town Meeting on Monday, October. 6.
Article 13 will ask voters for the funds to either repair or replace modular classroom units at the J. Turner Hood and E. Ethel Little Elementary Schools. .
“They’re both long beyond their useful life,” Superintendent Patrick Daly said during the board’s short meeting Monday night. “We’ve been unable to use them at Little the last two years.”
The action was not a recommendation on its passage. The board’s recommendation will be made at Town Meeting.
Article 13 asks Town Meeting to “Appropriate money for continued planning, design, permitting, and/or construction of modular replacements at J. Turner Hood and E. Ethel Little Elementary Schools to see if the Town will vote to raise by taxation and appropriate, appropriate by transfer from unexpended funds remaining in Warrant Articles of previous years, appropriate by transfer from any available source of funds, or borrow a sum of money for planning, design, permitting and/or reconstruction of modular units at the J. Turner Hood and E. Ethel Little Elementary Schools, or construction of a permanent structure at the J. Turner Hood Elementary School; or what it will do in relation thereto.”
The article does not include any cost estimates. “We did a feasibility study at Hood two years ago to replace them with permanent structures,” Daly explained. “The next step is for the state School Building Authority (MSBA) to come out, which they are doing Friday, September 26. If they believe we have a project worth pursuing, they’ll invite us to pursue it. Then we’d get a better understanding of the cost. I don’t think this will change much unless they say no and walk away, but I don’t think that will happen.”
He described the article as an “informational item to let people know this is out there.”
“I think it’s a good idea to get this out in front of the community to let them know what we’re thinking,” agreed School Committee member Tim Sutherland. “It’s not just they’re sitting there doing nothing. They’re a drag on resources.”
Requests in the School Department FY26 Capital Plan made in October 2024 included $4,350,000 to replace modular units at the Hood and Little. At that time, the plan was to remove the units at Little and build a new permanent and expanded unit at Hood.
At the October 28, 2024 School Committee meeting Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Michael Connelly said grants will be pursued to pay the item. “The Hood/Little Elementary School modular units are well past their existing life expectancy and need to be replaced,” he had said. “There’s been significant deterioration to the exterior siding, interior trim, flooring, roof, deck flooring and railing in each unit. The engineering firm’s feasibility study researched all options for repair, replacement and a new permanent build and provided cost estimates for each option. The District’s preferred option is to remove and demolish the Little School unit and consolidate all needed classrooms at Hood with an expanded new build to include the needed 6 to 7 classrooms for early childhood programs and specialized programming needs. We feel we need that space and if it’s a new building, you have design control.”
Member Scott Buckley reacted at the time: “I think it’s great to let the public know that currently there are modular spaces at both buildings that are past their useful life and need to be replaced, but more discussions have to take place about the best way to do that. It appears that doing one permanent building may be a better use of funds than doing different projects.”
Smooth first day of school
In other discussion September 8, Daly reported the opening of school went smoothly on Sept. 4 for grades 1-12 and Sept 8 for PreK and kindergarten, both of which followed teacher professional development days held the first week of the month. “We had a full day professional learning day for educators in the North Reading Public Schools September 2,” he said. “A lot of teachers offered professional development to each other. Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Sean Killeen planned the day and organized many sessions by our own highly qualified educators sharing best practices. It was great.”
Daly also reported the new principal at the High School, Dr. Miriam Meyer, who succeeded Anthony Loprete, and Julie Fahey, who succeeded Little School Principal Christine Molle, are transitioning to their new jobs successfully. “I’m getting lots of good feedback,” he said.
Another new employee is Molly Corthell who will serve as a permanent substitute teacher at the Middle School. “I’m glad we have a permanent sub for continuity with people who know the building and the students,” Buckley said. “In the past there always seemed to be issues.”
The meeting lasted under an hour, in part because the school year has just begun. “It’s the last short one before they get longer,” Sutherland said afterwards.