Video: January 24, 2019 Pentucket Building Committee Meeting
January 24, 2019 Public Meeting: View this meeting to hear about the district building contingency plan as well as an overview of the building project. Meeting Slides.
Pentucket to Hold Community Meeting on New Building Project
WEST NEWBURY — Superintendent Justin Bartholomew would like to invite community members to attend a public meeting next week on the proposed building project for the Pentucket Regional School District.
WHEN:
Thursday, Jan. 24 at 6 p.m.
WHERE:
Frederick N. Sweetsir School
104 Church St, Merrimac
WHAT:
Officials from Groveland, Merrimac and West Newbury — the three towns that make up Pentucket — will meet to share information on the proposed school building for grades seven through 12.
Both the middle and high school buildings, which were designed and constructed in the 1950s, have outlived their useful lives and are in need of significant physical improvements to extend their purpose for another 50 years.
The proposed building project is expected to receive an estimated 40 percent reimbursement from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) and will:
- Create a middle school and high school building that will be used for the next half century.
- Address the infrastructure of the high school, which cannot be replaced without repairing the entire building — a venture that would cost more than $70 million without any MSBA reimbursement.
- Provide an optimal learning environment for students, including updated science labs and modern learning spaces where collaboration and technology are focal points
- Replace corroding pipes in the middle and high school
- Remove all hazardous materials that are currently found throughout the buildings
Next month, the district will have a more exact estimate of project costs, which are currently estimated at $155.2 million. With the MSBA’s support, Pentucket taxpayers would be responsible for $95.2 million of the project’s cost. Residents will first vote on the project at their spring town meetings, and if the measure passes, it will appear on the ballot in May.
“With representatives from all three towns present at this meeting, this is a great opportunity for residents to come find out more about the project and ask questions,” Superintendent Bartholomew said. “Our goal is to ensure that every voter is fully informed on the scope of this work and what it means for our students, communities and taxpayers.”
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Photos: Groveland Water and Sewer Dept. Works Through the Night to Repair Water Main Break at Pentucket Regional Middle and High School
GROVELAND — Superintendent Thomas Cusick reports that the workers from the Groveland Water and Sewer Department worked for nearly nine hours on Tuesday to repair a nearly 60-year-old water main that failed, resulting in a loss of water service at the Pentucket Regional Middle and High Schools.
Crews were on-scene shortly after 2 p.m. and began work to locate, expose, and isolate the break. Groveland brought in the East Coast Excavation company, and a trench was dug from the school-side of Main St. (Rt. 113) to an area near the exit of the school complex. A ring crack in an 8-inch water main dating to the 1960s was eventually located and repaired, and water service was restored to the school complex at approximately 10 p.m.
Roadway patch and repair work is expected to be completed this week.
Superintendent praised the diligent work of the Water and Sewer employees and contractors.
“While our residents prepared for the evening in the warmth of their homes, our Groveland Water and Sewer Department staff and our friends at East Coast Excavation worked outside in below freezing conditions to dig a sizable hole in the road so that they could locate and repair this break and avoid our children losing a day of school,” he said. “I am very proud of their hard work and dedication to the task at hand.”
While Pentucket Regional Middle School has long been served by the Groveland for water, the High School only began receiving water from Groveland in the past few years, after a serious failure at the High School’s connection to the West Newbury Water Department. For that reason, both schools will be without water until the break can be repaired.
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“We Are Pentucket” kicks off campaign to jam-packed crowd of supporters from 3 towns
More than 130 community members from Merrimac, Groveland and West Newbury listen to speeches at the We Are Pentucket campaign kickoff party at Michael’s Harborside on Oct. 25, 2018 in Newburyport. They held up signs pledging “I’ll Be There” when the spending measure goes to voters in all three towns (Courtesy Photo)
NEWBURYPORT — More than 130 community leaders, parents and town officials from Groveland, Merrimac and West Newbury spoke passionately Thursday night on the urgency of approving funding for a new Pentucket school building for grades 7-12.
A sold-out crowd packed Michael’s Harborside to full capacity to support We Are Pentucket, a Municipal Ballot Question Committee dedicated to educating voters on the importance of approving a funding measure this spring for the construction project.
Dr. Justin Bartholomew, superintendent of the Pentucket Regional School District as well as an alum, talked about recent tours of newly-constructed high schools in Massachusetts.
“When I stepped into buildings, there is no question that those students have an advantage over our children, and that is not OK,” he said, to applause.
“When you are an alumni of Pentucket, you care about the place you live,” he continued. “You want to make sure that the place where you live is taken care of today, tomorrow and for the next 50 years.”
The middle and high school, both designed and constructed in the 1950s, have outlived their functional use, he said, “But what has not outlived its use is our need to make sure that our children are getting the best education possible.”
The proposed building project is expected to receive an estimated 40 percent reimbursement from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). The stringent eligibility process for this state funding began nearly four years ago, and is entering the schematic design phase. This February,
A sold-out crowd of more than 130 community members from Merrimac, Groveland and West Newbury hold up signs pledging “I’ll Be There” on voting day. They filled Michael’s Harborside in Newburyport at the We Are Pentucket campaign kickoff party on Oct. 25, 2018. (Courtesy Photo)
the district will have a more exact estimate of projects costs, which are currently estimated at $151.1 million. The total cost to taxpayers would be $95.2 million, with the MSBA funding.
Glenn Kemper, a selectman from West Newbury and father of three Pentucket graduates, announced that his board plans to reach out their counterparts to discuss ways they can work together to get this project approved.
“We need to treat this as a community project and not just a town project,” Kemper said.
Jonathan Seymour, principal of Pentucket High School and a member of the School Building Committee, lives in Merrimac. He has four children in district schools and two other who are Pentucket alums.
“It’s really amazing when you think back to 60 years ago that the three towns came together not just to rebuild a school, but to form a district,” he told the crowd, talking about the history of Pentucket. “We’re at a point now where the school is really tired and old. There are so many system issues that are imminently going to become serious issues for us.
“We need to design a building to support the collaborative learning environment we are offering to students every day,” Seymour said.
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Bagnall Elementary School Holds Successful Arts Social Event
GROVELAND — Principal Emily Puteri is pleased to announce that Bagnall Elementary School hosted a successful Arts Social, where students participated in creative workshops, displayed their artwork and enjoyed ice cream.
At the interactive Arts Social on Wednesday, May 16, professional artists, teachers and museum representatives held workshops for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. The PTA sponsored the Arts Social to raise money for cultural enrichment programs and to reduce the cost of art projects that students and families incur.
More than 500 people attended the event, which featured a display of student paintings, drawings and sculptures throughout the hallways. Several students also presented their passion projects, which they completed independently over the course of the school year by voluntarily giving up time at lunch or recess.
The passion projects included an electronic self-scrubbing cleaning brush, an outdoor sink made from recycled parts, videos, 3-D printed objects and wood-burned signs.
“It was so exciting to see our students present their passion projects and have our whole school community come together to celebrate the huge impact the arts have on kids,” said Bagnall STEAM Coordinator Brooke Welch. “Sharing student successes is a critical part of our work and is essential to their growth.”
Professional sculpture artist Ryan Kelley hosted a workshop on wire-bending and 3-D sculpture making, while fourth grade teacher Sarah Cassavaugh held a “paint night” themed workshop, where students created a tropical sunset with acrylic paints on canvas.
Representatives from the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire hosted a workshop on the ancient Japanese art of fish printing, “Gyotaku,” where students created their own fabric fish print to take home.
Museum of Fine Arts representatives hosted an interactive workshop and craft making session based on Egyptian hieroglyphics. The students learned about Japanese and Egyptian culture while creating their artwork.
“It is wonderful that our Bagnall students have the chance to explore learning in different ways and then share their knowledge and inspire others,” School Nurse Amanda Durand said.
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Bagnall Elementary School Engages Whole Community With Design and Engineering Expo
GROVELAND — At its first Design and Engineering Expo, Bagnall Elementary School united people of all ages from several communities around science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM).
“The close knit community of Groveland is one of my favorite things about being the principal of Bagnall,” Principal Emily Puteri said. “Seeing so many people in our community interested in what we’re doing was a really proud moment for all of us.”
Approximately 200 students, parents and residents of surrounding towns participated in the Jan. 19 expo, which featured innovators, makers, artists and engineers who showcased their work and gave attendees a chance to explore a variety of STEAM projects.
Some of the work on display included Pentucket Regional High School student Emily Stys’ project on animal prosthesis created with 3D printing, PRMS student Nicole Zahornasky’s hydraulic arm that she created, Bagnall sixth grader Colton Scally’s representation of a working record player and fifth grader Micheal Doucette’s working dirt bike. The expo also gave Bagnall students a chance to see how the school’s community garden is put to use by cafeteria staff who use the produce to prepare school lunches each day.
“I decided that we needed an event that would inspire our students to become active and excited about their learning at Bagnall,” Bagnall STEAM Coordinator Brooke Welch said. “As a community, it is important to celebrate each other’s successes and failures, learn from one another and share experiences within our district and surrounding communities. The driving force behind the expo was to establish a maker community and to include the families of Bagnall in our shared vision.”
Principal Puteri said she only heard one complaint about the expo, which came from a second grade student who wished the Friday evening event could have lasted longer.
“It was just so nice to see our teachers and students in a different light, and have parents and their kids being engaged together,” Principal Puteri said. “It was really nice for kids to be able to make real world connections to what they’re doing in school.”
The expo included exhibitors from MIT, Code and Circuit and a group representing First Robotics. Also among the presenters were:
- Allegro Microsystems: Christopher Carnie
- Environmental Engineering: Paula Morse
- Organic Farming: Doug Morse
- Pottery: Chris Brennan and Lindsey Laudenslauger
- Science on the Street: MIT Branch
- The Whalemobile: Cydne McInnis
- Squishy Circuits: Kelsey Hicks
Students, parents and even community members who don’t have a formal connection to Bagnall were also able to spend the evening making electrical circuits, creating flying devices and developing a stronger understanding of coding and robotics.
“My children were inspired, as they had face to face conversations with creative and innovative community members that volunteered at the event,” said Kim Dowling, president of the Bagnall Education Foundation (BEF). “It linked the STEAM curriculum that the students are learning with real world examples of how it can be applied.”
The expo was made possible by the generous support of BEF and the Bagnall PTA.
Welch and Puteri are looking forward to planning future Design and Engineering Expos, as well as additional events that will give the whole community a chance to participate and further their learning.
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Groveland Police Officer Completes First Day of D.A.R.E. After Program Reinstated
Detective Josh Sindoni completed his first day of the D.A.R.E. program at Groveland’s Dr. Elmer S. Bagnall Elementary School, teaching this kindergarten class about when and why to dial 911. Students gave a thumbs up when they thought a proposed situation required a 911 call. (Courtesy Photo Groveland Police Department)
GROVELAND — After a 12-year hiatus, the Groveland Police Department has reinstated its Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program, and Detective Josh Sindoni completed his first class at the Dr. Elmer S. Bagnall Elementary School this week.
On Monday, Jan. 8, Detective Sindoni visited the school’s kindergarten classes as part of an eight-week curriculum centered on helping students make responsible decisions.
In October, Detective Sindoni completed two weeks of D.A.R.E. training with the New Hampshire Fire Academy in Concord and is certified to teach the D.A.R.E. curriculum, which addresses drug use, violence, bullying, internet safety and other issues that impact students’ lives.
During his first week with students, Detective Sindoni went over the procedure for dialing 911. Simulating different scenarios, kindergartners learned when they should and should not call 911 using a thumbs up or thumbs down. Detective Sindoni also stressed the importance of learning their home address, as it will be the first thing a dispatcher asks for on a 911 call.
“The first session went great,” Detective Sindoni said. “All the kids were excited about learning and were engaged in the activity.”
Over the next several weeks, Detective Sindoni will return to each of Bagnall Elementary School’s kindergarten classes, educating students on topics including stranger danger, prescription drugs, bullying and understanding street signs.
Detective Sindoni’s work at the elementary school marks the revival of Groveland’s D.A.R.E. program, which was in place from 1993 to 2006 under the leadership of Lt. Dwight McDonald until it was halted due to lack of funding.
“We’re excited to have D.A.R.E. up and running after more than 10 years without it,” Chief Jeffrey Gillen said. “Through this program we’re reaching students at a young age to not only educate them about the basics of keeping themselves and others safe, but to help them make responsible and positive decisions into their adult lives.”
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West Newbury, Groveland and Merrimac Officials Conduct Mock Fatal OUI Car Crash for Students
WEST NEWBURY — The West Newbury, Groveland and Merrimac police and fire departments conducted a simulated fatal motor vehicle crash in front the junior and senior classes at Pentucket Regional High School today to demonstrate the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
On Monday, May 15, at 1 p.m., students gathered outside to observe a mock crash between two vehicles — the result of one operator driving while under the influence of alcohol. Police and fire arrived on scene to find one of the victims outside of the vehicle, who was pronounced dead on scene. Firefighters then worked to extricate passengers from the vehicles, who were played by students in the Pentucket Regional High School’s Safety & Public Service Academy and Pentucket Arts Academy.
Police officers conducted a field sobriety test on the driver and then placed him under arrest after determining he was intoxicated. Massachusetts State Police Trooper Matthew Routhier also arrived on scene to investigate the crash.
Atlantic Ambulance transported injured students, while a hearse from Paul C. Rodgers & Sons Funeral Homes picked up the victim who was pronounced dead.
Following the demonstration, students gathered in the school auditorium for a debriefing where they were given the opportunity to ask fire and police officials questions.
About the Innovation Academies at Pentucket Regional High School:
Innovation Academies (like the Pentucket Safety & Public Service Academy) offer students unique learning opportunities not found in most schools. The programs allow students to take highly specialized courses in their area of interest, learning both in the classroom and community. Students work with staff to develop connections between their area of interest and their post high school, college and career plans.
An injured student in the mock car crash is loaded into an ambulance to be transported to the hospital.
The intoxicated driver was placed under arrest by West Newbury Police.
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