What is the scope of the proposed project?

If approved, the West Elementary project will provide a facility to accommodate a K-5 population that is approximately 50 percent larger than West’s current student body. The student population at West will include not only the growth in student population within its own current district, but also students redistricted from other elementary schools to relieve overcrowding at those schools and enable them to provide improved instruction. The new West Elementary School will be designed to support the educational needs of students in alignment with up-to-date pedagogy and instructional materials/equipment. It will provide BRIDGE program students, who are on the autism spectrum, with appropriate small-group and therapy spaces, and will continue to serve medically fragile children above the age of five. The building will also provide adequate meeting/office/planning space for the adults who are tasked with delivering high-quality education programs.

Another key component of this building project will simultaneously address the facility and education programming needs of the current Shawsheen special education preschool population. A specially designed wing will be attached to West Elementary to expand the district’s ability to provide an appropriate education and related services to the students now served at Shawsheen Preschool and to increase the number of such students who can be served.

The site (driveways, sidewalks, playing fields, exterior lighting, etc.) will be redesigned for safety, ADA compliance, and to support the instructional program.

Show All Answers

1. What is the purpose of the West Elementary project?
2. What is the MSBA?
3. What process was followed to identify West Elementary for this project?
4. What factors were considered in deciding whether to seek an addition/renovation or new construction?
5. Why does West El need a new or renovated building?
6. What is the history of the current West Elementary facility?
7. Is an enrollment of 925 the right projection for West Elementary?
8. What is the extent of the overcrowding at the current facility?
9. What is the scope of the proposed project?
10. Why is the Shawsheen preschool being considered as part of this project?
11. How are Andover school buildings maintained?
12. Will the current West Elementary continue to be maintained during construction of the new West Elementary/Pre-K facility?
13. What is Shawsheen’s current enrollment and what is the capacity of the proposed preschool wing?
14. What is West’s current enrollment and what is the capacity of the proposed elementary school?
15. Will this project involve any redistricting of elementary student attendance areas?
16. What is the physical status of Andover’s other elementary schools?
17. How will a new West Elementary facility improve the program that is offered to the K-5 students at West?
18. How will a new special education preschool wing improve the program and services that are offered to the PreK students?
19. If approved, what will the new West Elementary look like?
20. Where will the new West Elementary be located?
21. Have any issues been sticking points in our negotiations with MSBA?
22. What will happen to the existing West El facility?
23. What will happen to the existing Shawsheen facility if its students are moved to the West Elementary site?
24. How will the construction process affect students’ learning environment?
25. What will be the impact on the staff of the current West and Shawsheen facilities?
26. What is the timeline for the project?
27. How much will this project cost?
28. How will this project be funded?
29. How does the town pay for facility construction projects?
30. What is a debt exclusion?
31. What is the potential impact of this school project on my real estate taxes?
32. What happens if Town Meeting does not approve the funds necessary for Andover’s portion of the costs?
33. What happens if the town voters do not pass the requested debt exclusion?
34. Why is the cost of this project so much more than when we built Bancroft?
35. What is Andover’s track record for past school construction being on or under budget?
36. I have no children who attend Andover Public Schools. How will this project benefit me and the community?
37. Doesn’t Andover also need a new high school?
38. Who are the project contractors?
39. Who serves on the West Elementary School Building Committee?
40. How can I stay informed?
41. How can I become involved?