The opening of the new West Elementary is right around the corner! After many years of planning and two years of construction, as of June 2024, the new building is almost complete and will soon be ready for occupancy. When the current school year ends in mid-June - the final school year for the existing West El - demolition of the existing West El building will begin, and new roadways, playing fields and parking areas will be installed in its place. We will happily welcome West El students and staff into their new school in August of 2024 for the start of the school year. Shawsheen students and staff will be welcomed to their new school the following August. Information about opportunities to visit the new school will be forthcoming.

When the new West Elementary opens, there will be some changes in traffic patterns. Families dropping off or picking up their students will continue to enter school grounds from Beacon St., as they did previously, but now will drop off or pick up in front of the new school and follow a clockwise pattern to exit onto Beacon St. School buses will enter the site from High Plain Rd., drop off or pick up students behind the new school, and exit onto Beacon St.

We are happy to report that, thanks to a provision in the Fiscal Year 2024 State budget, Andover received a supplemental grant from the State of approximately $8 million. This will lower the Town’s overall share of constructions costs and thus reduce the amount of money which must be borrowed by the Town. Of the overall $168 million construction cost, the Town will be responsible for approximately $122 million.

For those who would like to learn more about the project, please see the information below. The FAQs and Presentations sections contain lots of useful information. If you still have questions, please contact Joel Blumstein, the Building Committee Chair, at joel.blumstein@andoverma.us.