Tag: educational video

Educational Video: Voting information

Leah Comins MSBC Update , , , ,
Educational Video: Voting information

Educational Video #13 on the Coakley Middle School project includes information on voting for the new Coakley Middle School.

View the video here.

Norwood residents will vote on the project’s associated Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion at Town Meeting on Monday, March 14. If the project passes that vote, it will move on to a ballot vote on Monday, April 4. If the project passes both votes it will enter MSBA’s Module 6: Project Scope and Budget Phase, and then will proceed with design development and construction bid procurement. The proposed Coakley Middle School would open in the fall of 2025.

If either or both votes do not pass, the town has until June to pass both town votes. If the vote fails for a second time, the town will forfeit the maximum amount – $46 million – in grant funds from the MSBA and will be required to withdraw from the MSBA grant program altogether.

View all Coakley Middle School Project Educational Videos here.

Educational Video: Environmental impact of the proposed school

Leah Comins MSBC Update , ,
Educational Video: Environmental impact of the proposed school

Educational Video #12 on the Coakley Middle School project includes information on the environmental impact of the new Coakley Middle School.

View the video here.

With energy efficiency and sustainability as a focal point, the new Coakley is designed to be 100% electric with a low energy use intensity, achieve net zero energy through solar renewable energy, and is currently on track to receive LEED Gold certification.

Charging stations for electric cars would be available at the school as one way to reduce the carbon footprint. Wiring conduits would also be in place to accommodate charging stations for potential electric school buses in the future.

The proposed school would have new and efficient heating and cooling systems, use no fossil fuels and have a highly insulated building envelope, all with the goal of saving energy.

View all Coakley Middle School Project Educational Videos here.

Educational Video: Community benefits of the proposed school

Leah Comins MSBC Update , ,
Educational Video: Community benefits of the proposed school

Educational Video #11 on the Coakley Middle School project focuses on the benefits the new Coakley Middle School would bring to the community.

View the video here.

The building’s features would include a new and improved middle school complete with an artificial turf field and athletic lighting, a state-of-the-art 600-seat auditorium and black box theater, a large gymnasium and multiple outdoor spaces.

The new artificial turf field with lighting would allow for year-round and extended length-of-day use for all athletics in the town. The auditorium and theater spaces would also enhance arts and entertainment programs within the school district and community. Finally, the gymnasium will provide ample space for youth sports and summer programming within town.

View all Coakley Middle School Project Educational Videos here.

Educational Video: Site and configuration selection

Leah Comins MSBC Update , ,
Educational Video: Site and configuration selection

Educational Video #10 on the Coakley Middle School project includes information on the selection of a site and configuration for the new Coakley Middle School.

View the video here.

The process to choose a site consists of the identification of possible sites and an in-depth analysis of each site’s suitability. A total of 10 sites were identified and evaluated. Following an analysis of each site, in January 2021, the existing Coakley Middle School site was chosen through a unanimous vote by the Middle School Building Committee as the best site option for the project.

Once the building site was chosen, it was further evaluated in order to select the optimal building location. In March 2021, space behind the current Coakley building was selected to be the location for the new building.

Several building configurations, including possible additions/renovations or new construction, as well as grade level configuration options were studied. In July 2021, construction of a new building for grades 5-8 was supported by the Middle School Building Committee to be the preferred configuration.

View all Coakley Middle School Project Educational Videos here.

Educational Videos: New school proposed grade configuration

Leah Comins MSBC Update ,
Educational Videos: New school proposed grade configuration

Two Educational Videos on the Coakley Middle School project explain the selected grade configuration of the new school.

Click here to view: video #8 on the grade configuration and benefits to elementary schools

The preferred design option approved by the Middle School Building Committee includes a change to the grade configuration of the new Coakley Middle School to include grade 5, along with grades 6-8.

Moving grade 5 to the new Coakley building will result in vacated space in each of the district’s five elementary schools, allowing each school to address specific space needs, including having space for dedicated music and art rooms, additional rooms dedicated to special education, and space for teacher collaboration. This configuration will address overcrowding at the elementary schools in the most cost-effective way by reducing the need for additional renovations or detached modular classrooms at each school.

Click here to view: video #9 on the grade configuration and middle school layout

Significant planning and consideration has been given to ensuring the new middle school building will be a comforting environment for the grade 5 students who will be incorporated into the new building. Each grade will have its own floor, further subdivided by academic area. Grades 5-6 will be in a lower school, and grades 7-8 will be in an upper school, both of which will have a dedicated building entrance and separate dining commons. Strategically placed stairwells will also allow for students to pass between academic areas or shared program spaces without significant crossover between students of different grade levels.

View all Coakley Middle School Project Educational Videos here.

Educational Video: Funding and financial impact

Leah Comins MSBC Update , , ,
Educational Video: Funding and financial impact

Educational Video #5 on the Coakley Middle School project includes information on the financial impact of the proposed project.

View the video here.

Independent cost estimates are conducted throughout the project process. The cost per square foot estimated for the project – $606 per square foot – currently falls below the average cost of school construction projects in a similar timeframe, according to data from the MSBA. This cost per square foot also includes the cost of the synthetic turf field and lighting.

As part of the partnership with the MSBA, the Town is reimbursed a percentage of the project cost, the amount of which is based on MSBA-determined eligible costs. The remainder of the project cost is fulfilled by the Town. At this time, the project is estimated to cost a total of about $150 million, resulting in a current expected town share of approximately $104 million with an MSBA grant (approved on March 2) of up to approximately $46 million.

A tax impact calculator is located on the project website for residents to learn more about their expected tax impact.

View all Coakley Middle School Project Educational Videos here.

Educational Videos: Existing Conditions

Leah Comins MSBC Update , , , , ,
Educational Videos: Existing Conditions

Several Educational Videos on the Coakley Middle School project explain the existing conditions of the current Coakley building.

Click here to view: video #2 on daylighting
In the existing building, over 40% of core academic spaces, including the library media center, do not have views to the outdoors and rely solely on electrical lighting. Studies have shown that connection to the outdoors and natural light are beneficial to students’ wellbeing and can impact academic performance.

Click here to view: video #3 on undersized classrooms
About 85% of the educational spaces in the existing building do not meet the space requirements of the MSBA. This lack of space limits space for students, as well as educational tools and supplies. Six isolated classrooms are also located in modular units connected to the building, all of which are also undersized and have outlived their temporary use.

Click here to view: video #4 on the educational layout
In the past, two junior high schools served Norwood, the current Coakley and the current Savage Center. The layout of these sister schools combined grade level by program, similar to traditional high schools. The current Coakley is laid out with rings of classrooms around a center, not allowing for proper separation between grades levels, nor lending itself to the teaming structure the middle school implements.

Click here to view: video #6 on MEPFP infrastructure
Though the Coakley building is well maintained, it has many aging systems and requires updates to meet code requirements. The current heating and cooling system in the Coakley is operational, but has a number of non-functioning units that cause leaks. The building also requires additional cooling systems as the HVAC system is insufficient for the whole building, and the building needs many more electrical outlets throughout the building to support the increase in technology use for education.

Furthermore, the current fire alarm system does not have adequate detector coverage, and parts of the system do not meet ADA requirements. The current lighting in the building is also not up to energy code.

Click here to view: video #7 on accessibility compliance
Several aspects of the current building do not meet accessibility code compliance for individuals with disabilities. These aspects include door hardware, the main office and library check-in desks, building signage, many plumbing fixtures, stairs and fire protection systems. The building’s two existing elevators also create challenges as they are not in locations that allow for easy access between parts of the building.

View all Coakley Middle School Project Educational Videos here.

Educational Video: How did we get here?

Leah Comins MSBC Update ,
Educational Video: How did we get here?

Educational Video #1 on the Coakley Middle School project includes information on how the process for the project began.

View the video here.

In 2016, the Norwood Public Schools began a district-wide facility study with Ai3 Architects, LLC and consultants to review the existing building condition of schools in the district. At the conclusion of the process, the Coakley Middle School was identified as the school with the most building deficiencies.

Building performance, such as needed capital repairs; functional performance, such as enrollment numbers and possible overcrowding; and educational performance, such as existing learning spaces are the criteria used to evaluate the school buildings.

Based on the information and results from the study, the town submitted a Statement of Interest (SOI) to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), which is the first step in applying for funding assistance for a building project. Norwood was one of 12 projects selected for the Core program that year.

View all Coakley Middle School Project Educational Videos here.

Educational Video #10: Site and Configuration Selection

Leah Comins MSBC Update , ,
Educational Video #10: Site and Configuration Selection

The Town of Norwood is pleased to share Educational Video #10 on the Coakley Middle School project, which includes information on the selection of a site and configuration for the new Coakley Middle School. View the video here.

The process to choose a site consists of the identification of possible sites and an in-depth analysis of each site’s suitability. A total of 10 sites were identified and evaluated. Following an analysis of each site, in January 2021, the existing Coakley Middle School site was chosen through a unanimous vote by the Middle School Building Committee as the best site option for the project.

Once the building site was chosen, it was further evaluated in order to select the optimal building location. In March 2021, space behind the current Coakley building was selected to be the location for the new building.

Several building configurations, including possible additions/renovations or new construction, as well as grade level configuration options were studied. In July 2021, construction of a new building for grades 5-8 was supported by the Middle School Building Committee to be the preferred configuration.

Coakley Middle School Project Educational Videos are released periodically and cover various topics relating to the project. Past published educational videos can be found here.

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