FAQ
NEED FOR A NEW HIGH SCHOOL
Why does Belmont need a new high school?
FACILITY-RELATED ISSUES AT THE HIGH SCHOOL
What are the facility-related issues in the existing building?
What are the space-constraints at the high school?
ENROLLMENT AND DISTRICT-WIDE OVERCROWDING
What are the district-wide enrollment numbers for the Belmont Public Schools?
How does the town determine enrollment numbers?
Why doesn’t Belmont build a fifth elementary school to address overcrowding?
Can Chenery be converted to a fifth elementary school and have all elementary schools be a K-6 grade configuration?
BELMONT’S EDUCATIONAL VISION & PROGRAMMING
What is the school department’s educational vision for Belmont’s students?
MEETING BELMONT’S NEED FOR A NEW SCHOOL
PARTNERS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECT
Who are the partners in the Belmont High School Building Project?
Who is on the Belmont High School Building Committee?
How was the Belmont High School Building Committee formed?
What is the MSBA and how much control do they have over the process?
Who is the Owner’s Project Manager and what is their job?
Who is on the Design Team?
Who is the Construction Manager and what is their job?
GRADE CONFIGURATION
What grades will be at the new school?
How did the Belmont School Committee choose a 7-12 grade configuration for the school?
In the 7-12 school, will all the grades be together? Will 7th graders have classrooms in close proximity to juniors and seniors?
Will there be afterschool for 7th and 8th graders at the 7-12 school?
SITE DESIGN
How did the BHSBC decide on a major addition/minor renovation design scheme?
What will the 7-12 school look like?
How was square footage determined for the building?
What will the classrooms look like?
Will the building be a sustainable design?
What will happen regarding the proposed community path and proposed tunnel under the train tracks?
There is no White Field House in the current design. Where is it and what will the football team use for a locker area?
Will the track and Harris Field be impacted by construction?
What will happen to the Brendan Grant field?
I hear concerns about potential contamination at the high school. What steps are being taken to investigate these concerns?
Who will build the new school? How are bids considered?
PROJECT TIMELINE AND PROCESS
What is the project timeline?
What happens to the high school students while the new school is being built?
When will the new 7-12 school open?
PROJECT COSTS & FUNDING
How much will the 7-12 school project cost?
How is the project being funded?
What amount will the MSBA cover?
How did we qualify for MSBA funding?
How much will I have to pay for the school?
When will the town vote on funding the 7-12 Building Project?
Who has paid for the work that has gone into the project to date?
What are some unique factors of the BHSBC Project that impact the overall cost of the Project?
How does the cost of this school compare to other high schools in the area?
What are the next steps in the process?
What happens is the debt-exclusion vote doesn’t pass in November?
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
How can I be involved in the process?
Can I still get a tour of Belmont High School?
When is the next BHSBC meeting?