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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Why does Belmont need a new high school?
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The current Belmont High School lacks sufficient space for the existing number of students and enrollment is projected to significantly increase in coming years. Between 2010 and 2019, it is projected that Belmont's enrollment will have increased by 1,000 students. By 2024, there will be more than 4,900 students in Belmont's schools with class sizes of close to 400 across the District. This impacts the educational experience of the students and the ability of the school's faculty and staff to provide a proper learning environment. Most of the Belmont High School building's utilities are original to the building, have reached the end of their useful life, and are not energy efficient. There have been no additions or major renovations of the building since it opened and building is not Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. In addition, the building lacks many of the spaces and technologies required to fulfill modern educational requirements and goals.
- Will this project be a renovation or new construction?
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This determination has not yet been made. A study of both renovation and new construction options are required by the MSBA’s Feasibility Study Phase.
- What are the facility-related issues in the existing building?
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Virtually all components of the high school's mechanical and electrical systems are original to the building and have been utilized beyond their expected "useful life design." No major renovations, aside from an update to the fire alarm system, have occurred since the building was opened in 1970.
The Belmont High School (BHS) building has been well-maintained but is heavily used. Throughout the building, signs of severe wear and tear are evident. Many windows throughout the building leak and have caused damage throughout the lobby and 1st floor classrooms. In addition, there have been leaks in the small theatre, and even with remediation this is a recurring issue. The current public address (PA) system is inadequate, unreliable, and does not sufficiently reach all students and the building does not contain modern security systems such as security cameras or adequately secured doors. In addition, the building is not Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant, there is not a wheelchair accessible elevator, and access to several classrooms, offices, and restrooms is limited.
- What are the space-constraints at the high school?
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In 2013, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) identified the limited space at BHS as negatively impacting the delivery of instruction and curriculum. Because of this and multiple building infrastructure issues, BHS is currently on warning for facilities. In addition, space constraints have resulted in limited flexibility for instruction throughout the building. Many spaces have been repurposed and modified in an attempt to accommodate programmatic needs. For example, the building's garage space has been converted to an orchestra and chorus rooms, science labs are being conducted in general classrooms-not designed as science labs, office spaces have been converted into English Language Learner (ELL) classrooms, and lecture halls have been converted to wellness classrooms. Every space in the high school is being used at maximum capacity.
- What are the district-wide enrollment numbers for the Belmont Public Schools?
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Belmont is experiencing skyrocketing enrollment. In the past six years, enrollment has increased by 631 students. Furthermore, the MSBA's demographers and an independently contracted demographer, retained by Belmont, both project a steady upward trend of an additional 100 plus students a year with a projected overall increase of 1,000 students between 2011 and 2024. In 2024, there will be close to 4,900 students in Belmont's schools.
- How does the town determine enrollment numbers?
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In 2016, the BHSBC contracted with McKibben Demographics to conduct a comprehensive analysis and forecast of Belmont's demographics, including population and school enrollment forecasts.
This process was run parallel to the MSBA Demographic study for Belmont, and collectively the design enrollment numbers were confirmed for the Project. The design enrollment numbers are the basis for the layout of core classroom spaces in a new building. In addition to these numbers, there are enrollment numbers for special classrooms such as LABBB (Lexington, Arlington, Burlington, Bedford, Belmont Program for Special Education) which are incorporated into the design numbers by the MSBA. The design enrollment numbers for the 7 through 12 school, excluding LABBB, are 2,215.
- Why doesn’t Belmont build a fifth elementary school to address overcrowding?
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The MSBA would not allow Belmont to build a fifth elementary school as part of the Belmont High School Building Project. The idea has, however, been researched extensively by the Belmont School Committee. Building a fifth elementary school in Belmont was not deemed feasible as there is no site available for a new school and there is no funding vehicle in place to fund a new elementary school.
- Can Chenery be converted to a fifth elementary school and have all elementary schools be a K through 6 grade configuration?
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The school department has researched this option and has determined that it is not viable. The Chenery building would have a disproportionally large number of students, while smaller schools, like Burbank and Butler, would have only two classes per grade. Neither of these scenarios support Belmont's educational vision. In addition, there is no vehicle in place to fund the renovations necessary to make Chenery an elementary school and to alter the four elementary schools so they could accommodate older students.
- What is the school department’s educational vision for Belmont’s students?
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Belmont's educational vision reflects the changing way that students are educated and emphasizes the need to create an environment that fosters 21st century learning and prepares students to be creative problem solvers, critical thinkers, effective communicators, and skilled collaborators.
Collaborative learning activities, including project-based activities, joint problem solving, debates, and more, re-define the traditional student-teacher relationship in the classroom. Students learn not only from their teacher but also from fellow students. Classrooms must be flexible and foster group work. In a 21st century learning environment, the classroom itself becomes a teaching device. Students become drivers in the learning process, actively working together to solve problems, inquire, and discover. The need for an environment that supports and enhances the learning process, encourages innovation, and fosters positive relationships is imperative in today's climate.
Meeting Belmont’s Need for a New School
- Who are the partners in the Belmont High School Building Project?
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The partners for the project include the Belmont High School Building Committee (representing the Town of Belmont and the Belmont Public Schools), the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), the Owner's Project Manager (Daedalus Projects), the Architect/Designer (Perkins+Will), and the Construction Manager (Skanska).
- Who is on the Belmont High School Building Committee?
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The Belmont Middle and High School Building Committee members are:
- Kate Bowen, School Committee Member
- Patricia Brusch, Committee Vice Chair, Permanent Building Committee Chair, Capital Budget Committee
- Thomas Caputo, Selectman, Space Task Force, CMS parent
- Joseph DeStefano, Planning Board, construction experience, CMS and BHS parent
- Stephen Dorrance, Director of Facilities
- Patrice Garvin, Town Administrator, MCPPO Certified
- Bill Lovallo, Committee Chair, Permanent Building Committee, engineering experience, CMS parent
- Michael McAllister, Principal, Chenery Middle School
- Robert McLaughlin, Permanent Building Committee, Warrant Committee
- Christopher Messer, Committee Secretary, operations and real estate experience, BHS parent
- Diane Miller, architecture experience, CMS and BHS parent
- Joel Mooney, Permanent Building Committee, engineering experience
- John Phelan, Superintendent of Schools
- Ellen Schrieber, Warrant Committee Member, CMS Parent
- Jamie Shea, Foundation for Belmont Education, BHS teacher, Burbank, CMS, and BHS parent
- Emma Thurston, Committee Treasurer, business experience, BHS Parent
- How was the Belmont High School Building Committee formed?
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The Belmont High School Building Committee is an independent committee appointed by the Town Moderator that was approved by the Town of Belmont at the February 2016 Town Meeting. The Committee is a requirement of the MSBA and representatives appointed to the Belmont High School Building Committee must include: a member who is MCPPO certified, a local Chief Executive Officer Administrator or Manager, a School Committee Member (minimum of one), the Superintendent of Schools, a local official responsible for building maintenance, a Representative of Office authorized by law to construct school buildings, the School Principal, a member knowledgeable in Belmont's educational mission and the function of a school facility, a local budget official or member of a local finance committee, and one or more members of the community with architecture, engineering, and/or construction experience.
- What is the MSBA and how much control do they have over the process?
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The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) is a quasi-independent government authority created to reform the process of funding capital improvement projects in the Commonwealth's public schools. The MSBA strives to work with local communities to create affordable, sustainable, and energy efficient schools across Massachusetts. The MSBA, which has a dedicated revenue stream of one penny of the state's 6.25% sales tax, collaborates with municipalities to equitably invest in finding the right-sized, most fiscally responsible, and educationally appropriate solutions to create safe, sound, and sustainable learning environments.
- Who is the Owner’s Project Manager and what is their job?
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The Belmont High School Building Committee (BHSBC) selected Daedalus Projects, Inc. to serve as the Owner's Projects Manager for the Belmont High School Building Project and the MSBA approved the selection in April 2017. The Owner's Project Manager (OPM) provides project management guidance throughout the life of a public-school project. Massachusetts General Law (MGL) requires that an OPM is contracted for any public building project where services are estimated to exceed $1.5 million. The duties of the OPM include, but are not limited to: providing advice and consultation with respect to design, value engineering, scope of work, and cost estimating; general contractor and subcontractor prequalification; scheduling, construction, and the selection and negotiation with, and oversight of, a designer and a general contractor for the project; and ensuring the preparation of time schedules, and assisting in project evaluations.
- What grades will be in the new school?
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Grades 7 through 12 will be at the new school.
- How did the Belmont School Committee choose a 7 through 12 grade configuration for the school?
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The Belmont School Committee chose a 7 through 12 grade configuration as a comprehensive, district-wide solution to ameliorate overcrowding problems throughout the District. With a 7 through 12 building, Belmont will be able to properly implement its educational vision and will be able to address current enrollment, space, and operations issues. A 7 through 12 school provides a long-term solution for the town. Extensive research and information gathering for the grade configuration decision included:
- Educational Visioning Workshops
- Grade configuration and District-Wide space analysis
- Building Systems Assessment
- Site Constraint Study
- Educational Programming Analysis
- Community Design Workshops
- Enrollment Trend analysis
- Teacher, School Administration and Community Input
- Traffic Pattern and Options Analysis
- Social-Emotional-Learning Analysis
- Environmental and Sustainable Design Study
- In the 7 through 12 school, will all the grades be together? Will 7th graders have classrooms in close proximity to juniors and seniors?
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With lower grades on the Belmont 7 through 12 School campus, careful work will be done to ensure adequate separation between younger and older students. Some strategies that may be employed to achieve this include: physical separation of classroom wings; adjusting school schedules such that older and younger students arrive and depart at different times; and carefully controlling the flow of students through communal areas.
Additionally, there are many exciting educational opportunities that exist when 7th and 8th grades are included on a high school campus. The opportunities for thoughtful educational connections between grades could include mentoring programs and other cross-grade learning opportunities as well as access to shared robotics labs, maker spaces, and other educational areas.
- Will there be afterschool for 7th and 8th graders at the 7 through 12 school?
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Yes, afterschool will be available for 7th and 8th graders at the school. The School Committee will work with BASEC (Belmont After School Enrichment Collaborative) to determine the needs of the 7th and 8th graders in the 7 through 12 building. Afterschool needs were taken into consideration during the feasibility phase of the project.
- What grades will be in the new high school? What will the different grade configurations look like (for example, 9 through 12, 8 through 12, or 7 through 12)?
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The Belmont High School Building Project has received approval from the MSBA to study options for multiple grade configurations: 9 through 12, 8 through 12, and 7 through 12.
Should the Town decide to include lower grades on the Belmont High School campus, careful work will be done to ensure adequate separation between younger and older students. Some strategies that may be employed to achieve this include: physical separation of classroom wings; adjusting school schedules such that older and younger students arrive and depart at different times; and carefully controlling the flow of students through communal areas.
Additionally, there are many exciting educational opportunities that exist when 7th and 8th grades are included on a high school campus. The opportunities for thoughtful educational connections between grades could include mentoring programs and other cross-grade learning opportunities as well as access to a shared robotics lab or maker space. Including lower grades on the new Belmont High School campus would alleviate crowding throughout the district.
- How did the BHSBC decide on a major addition/minor renovation design scheme?
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The decision to go forward with a major addition with minor renovation design scheme that will maintain, with upgrades, the existing fieldhouse and pool, was based on extensive research and information gathering, including:
- Educational Visioning Workshops
- Grade Configuration and District-Wide Space Analysis
- Building Systems Assessments
- Site Constraint Study
- Educational Programming Analysis
- Community Design Workshops
- Enrollment Trend Analysis
- Teacher, School Administration, and Community Input
- Traffic Pattern and Options Analysis
- Social-Emotional-Learning Analysis
- Environmental and Sustainable Design Study
After examining the design options, including new construction, renovation, and renovation with addition, it was determined that a renovation with major addition would most adequately address the town's needs.
- What will the 7 through 12 school look like?
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The school will be a 7 through 12 lower and upper-school building. The school, which will be situated on the current Belmont High School (BHS) site, although with a different building orientation, will include minor renovation and a major addition. Both the fieldhouse and the pool will remain in their current locations, with upgrades.
For multiple views, both exterior and interior, of the proposed school, please visit the "Site Design" section of the website under "Presentation Materials."
- How was square footage determined for the building?
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The size of the 7 through 12 building is dictated by a design enrollment of 2,215 students, Belmont's educational program, and the MSBA's space allotment for various classroom uses. This comes out to a building square footage of 451,575 SF. This is considerably larger than the current 257,120 SF high school building due to drastically increased enrollment and the incorporation of two additional grades (7th and 8th).
- What will the classrooms look like?
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Multiple views of classrooms and other interior school areas are available in the "Site Design" section of the "Presentation Materials" section of the website.
- Will the building be a sustainable design?
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All Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) projects are required to design for the most recent version of LEED-S (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) or NE-CHPS (Northeast Collaborative for High Performance Schools) and exceed Massachusetts Energy base code by 10%. Furthermore, the MSBA's Green Schools Program provides incentives to districts to increase the energy efficiency and sustainability of new construction and major renovation/addition projects by exceeding Massachusetts Energy base code by 20% for two additional reimbursement percentage points.
The MSBA has established several sustainable green programs for all MSBA-funded projects, with an increased emphasis on reducing energy and water consumption. These programs include updated standards for new and major renovation/addition projects. The Belmont High School Building Committee is working closely with Sustainable Belmont and is pursuing efficient alternative energy sources which will realize a life cycle cost benefit. In addition, exploring the goal of Zero Net Energy is a project objective.
Project Timeline & Process
- What is the project timeline?
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The current schedule for the 7 through 12 project is:
- Completion of Feasibility Study - Spring 2018
- Completion of Preferred Schematic Design - Summer 2018
- Secure Project Funding - Town-Wide Vote - November 2018
- Completion of Building Design - April 2019
- High School (9-12) Construction - June 2019 to July 2021
- High School Occupancy - September 2021
- Middle School (7-8) Construction - July 2021 to May 2023
- Middle School Occupancy - September 2023
- What happens to the high school students while the new school is being built?
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The Construction Manager will develop a strategy for phased construction and occupancy of the 7 through 12 school. New construction will be done first, such that 9 through 12 students can remain in the existing structure until they can occupy new areas of the school. Once the 9 through 12 area of the school is finalized, high school students will utilize the 9 through 12 portion of the school. At this time, construction will commence on the 7 through 8 portion of the school. All efforts will be made to minimize disruption to school operations and to maintain safety and security for students, faculty, and staff. This may include utilization of temporary walls and partitions, as well as temporary student drop-off areas and traffic patterns.
- When will the new 7 through 12 school open?
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If the town votes positively in November to fund the Project, construction of the high school portion of the school will begin in June 2019 and doors will open to students in September 2021.
Construction of the middle school (7 to 8) portion of the project will begin in July 2021 with an occupancy date of September 2023.
Project Costs & Funding
- How much will the 7 through 12 school project cost?
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- Estimated Project Cost: $295 million
- Estimated Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) Reimbursement: $80 million
- Estimated Belmont Cost: $215 million
- How is the project being funded?
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Based upon the completed Feasibility Study, the District and the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) establish and document the project scope, budget, schedule, and MSBA financial participation. The MSBA will fund 40.66% of eligible project costs. On November 6th, voters will decide whether to accept the MSBA's $80 million in funding towards the total project costs of $295,159,189 and approve a debt exclusion to fund the balance of the project, an amount for which Belmont's taxpayers will be responsible. If the town votes in favor of the debt exclusion, the project will move ahead.
- What amount will the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) cover?
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The MSBA has approved a reimbursement rate of 40.66% of eligible costs for the Project. The total reimbursement amount covered by the MSBA for the Belmont High School Project is confirmed at a cap of $80.64 million.
- How did we qualify for Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) funding?
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Submitting a Statement of Interest (SOI) was the critical first step in the MSBA's program to partially fund the construction, renovation, addition, or repair of municipally or regionally owned school facilities located in cities, towns, and regional school districts. The SOI submitted every year by Belmont during the past 10 years allowed Belmont to inform the MSBA about deficiencies that exist in the High School facility and how those deficiencies inhibit the delivery of Belmont's educational program. In 2016, the MSBA invited Belmont into the first phase of their grant program. The MSBA's grant program is a non-entitlement, competitive program, and grants are distributed by the MSBA Board of Directors based on need and urgency, as expressed by the District and validated by the MSBA. Moving forward in the MSBA's grant program requires continued collaboration between Belmont and the MSBA.
- How much will I have to pay for the school?
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Based on the project cost estimates, the real estate tax burden to Belmont's homeowners, based on a 30-year debt exclusion, will be $184 per $100,000 of assessed home value.
Community Involvement
- How can I be involved in the process?
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Attend community meetings.
All BHSBC meetings are open to the public and the community is always welcome. For a full listing of meetings, visit the calendar section of this site. Community members will receive notification of all upcoming meetings through postings on the BHSBC website, through various communication methods at each school in the district, and through emails from district and community listservs. Public notices will be posted and meetings will be conducted in accordance to Commonwealth of Massachusetts Open Meeting Law.
- Can I still get a tour of Belmont High School?
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Absolutely! If you are interested in a tour of the Belmont High School, please contact the BHSBC via email.
- When is the next BHSBC meeting?
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Meeting dates are posted on the calendar section of this site and on the Town of Belmont website.