Present: All PBC members, Mastricola Middle School Principal and Assistant Principal Tom Levesque and Peter Bergeron, Business Administrator Matt Shevenell.

The meeting was called to order at 7 PM by W. Morrison.

The first item on the agenda was presentation of additional options for Mastricola Middle School space usage for the 2002-03 school year. T. Levesque presented six options that had been considered. He noted they were rated in terms of preference from least to most preferred.

1. Renting outside space. This space would only be used by a small number of students and/or Special Education professionals and there might be confidentially issues, transportation and accessibility issues.
2. Purchase of two mobile carts for computer education (discussed at a prior meeting.)
3. Constructing 4 classrooms in the Smith Gym. Provides space that would be obtained from portables to be used for World Language, Gifted and Talented and Special Education. Approximately half of the gym would be available for Physical Education classrooms. This option eliminates the large assembly area needed for student arrival, school assemblies, etc. as well as cutting down space available for P.E. classes and both interscholastic and MYA athletic activities.

   C. Morrison asked T. Levesque to think about how school dismissal could be efficiently conducted in conjunction with Mastricola Elementary School when the middle school becomes a district-wide upper elementary school.

   S. Heinrich asked about the possibility of using "found" space to make all clusters five person teams as opposed to five person teams plus a "mini-pod" within two of the clusters. He noted this would reduce class size and make all clusters the same while still proving the need for additional space as some subjects would still be "on wheels." He expressed concern that the options being considered are only to get teachers "off wheels" and do not directly impact or affect the students. T. Levesque indicated that next year there will be two five-person teams and two four-person teams within two of the clusters rather than three five-person teams and a three-person team. He also discussed educational drawbacks from having teachers sharing space and/or on wheels.

   K. Powell asked what was going to happen with the space reclaimed when the district maintenance department moves. T. Levesque explained that the area would be used for Special Education, probably the PASS program.

4. Constructing 4 classrooms in the All-purpose Room. T. Levesque mentioned similar issues with #3, although this would not have as drastic an effect on the PE program. However, it would mean that students would need to eat lunches in their classrooms and there would be a need to add a recess period to provide the teachers with a duty-free lunch or do some other type of schedule changes. Further, it will impact the space needed for town meetings/voting as well as other programs that use the stage.
5. Computer lab in the library (discussed at a prior meeting)
6. Two Modular units (4 classrooms) (discussed at a prior meeting)

K. Powell asked if there was a possibility to move the eighth grade to the high school. M. Morrison noted that moving 450 students from the middle school would then overcrowd the high school. S. Heinrich noted that there really is no way to segregate the 8th grade from the high school and 8th graders are not high schoolers. M. Shevenell noted that since the high school has already done its student scheduling, any building use changes for the high school would be a virtual impossibility.

S. Heinrich asked if there was any consideration of double sessions with grades 5 - 6 and grades 7 - 8 at the middle school. T. Levesque said that there was no serious discussion on this as the administration felt there were numerous negative impacts on the rest of the district. M. Morrison noted that doing double sessions might also allow kindergarten to be started and there would be a cost, but he felt it was worth a serious look. C. Morrison noted that there would be huge issues, but double sessions might help prove the space need. S. Heinrich spoke about the recent double sessions in Nashua to meet a temporary space need. He noted they worked very well. T. Levesque noted the administration wanted a solution that was temporary and had the most benefits with the least drawbacks on programming. He felt the benefits of the modular classrooms far outweighed any need to go to double sessions.

C. Morrison suggested that a combination of several options might be a better solution. She felt that a multi-faceted approach could stay within the needed budget and show that the situation is so bad that the district has had to try several things in order to come up with the best temporary solution. She suggested using the library and only one portable. S. Heinrich agreed that spreading the solution out might be better in terms of public relations.

K. Powell asked about using the portables for a team from one of the clusters. W. Morrison expressed concern about space being used for administration instead of classrooms. S. Heinrich suggested that there was a stigma attached to being the "cluster in the trailers." T. Levesque noted that it would be difficult to run a science program in the portables. M. Morrison noted that putting World Language in the portables would spread the usage over the entire student body rather than just a small group of students.

S. Heinrich brought up security as an issue to be considered when installing portables. M. Morrison felt that security should be considered but not used as a reason against installing portables. W. Morrison was concerned about a secure, covered entrance resulting in the loss of an emergency exit.

W. Morrison agreed that a multi-faceted approach was the better way to show that the middle school is doing as much as it can. M. Morrison suggested that a multiple approach shows that the school is trying to do everything it can - but still needs more space.

S. Heinrich also suggested getting some storage trailers to more visibly show needs. T. Levesque noted the middle school already has a small one. S. Heinrich suggested getting bigger ones.

C. Morrison asked what the current PASS space would be used for when PASS is moved to the "old Maintenance area." T. Levesque said that the Special Education coordinator and a secretary would probably be moved to that space as well as some testing and conferencing.

W. Morrison suggested that the temporary space should not be used for conferencing and other administrative space needs. He felt that the space should be used for students. Only needing space for administration makes the new school harder to sell.

M. Morrison asked if there was a plan for the presentation to the School Board. M. Shevenell noted he thought the plan was to have Marge Chiafery make the recommendations with back-up from T. Levesque and followed up by any comment that the committee might wish to offer. W. Morrison indicated his understanding that no formal report or recommendation from the committee would be required.

T. Koenig noted his opposition to modular classrooms. His opinion was that doing as many other things as possible was important. He felt that doing only one thing was not a good thing. He felt that using the portables to take Health off wheels and put World Language and Gifted and Talented in the portables would generate negative public relations. He thought putting large storage trailers in front of the school would be a better idea.

C. Morrison and T. Levesque discussed the Gifted and Talented program and its impact on the entire school rather than just on a small group of students.

W. Morrison asked where the administration stood regarding portables at this point. T. Levesque noted the marketing issues the committee raised were important. W. Morrison noted that while portables may be the best short term solution, they would negatively impact the long term solution. T. Levesque noted that the administration felt that portables were the best short term solution and that a good marketing campaign could overcome any negative feelings.

M. Shevenell asked if the impression that portables would generate is that the district is only installing them to get people off wheels. T. Koenig and S. Heinrich agreed that it was.

M. Morrision suggested that anything that is done must be very well explained as well as a brief description of all options considered and rejected. T. Koenig agreed. He further suggested that if either the Smith Gym or the All Purpose Room is utilized for classrooms that the entire space be used for that, rather than just a portion of the space.

S. Heinrich asked for the consensus of the committee regarding the installation of two portable classrooms. T. Koenig noted that, if the commitee was at all representative of the town, then the administration would be able to figure out what it was up against. M. Morrison noted that it all comes back to what is best for the children. W. Morrison suggested that the committee give the administration an indication of whether the committee supported portable classrooms.

S. Heinrich made a motion, seconded by M. Morrison, that the Planning and Building Committee endorse two portable classrooms. S. Heinrich noted he felt this was the wrong way to go. M. Morrison stated he felt the committee needed to support education. He felt if the administration could convince the School Board it was the right thing to do then the committee should support it. He also noted that he would support C. Morrison's suggestion of a multi-faceted approach or anything that would help education in Merrimack. C. Morrison felt that the School Board might already believe portables are the best solution. She agreed that what is best for the students is the most important thing, but she felt that in the long run, portables might not be the best solution without trying other things first or in combination with portables. T. Koenig suggested that two portables to take teachers off wheels when the need is for ten classrooms is not the right way to go. He felt that using the library (option #5) is a better idea and is more cost effective. K. Powell stated she liked a multi-purpose solution. The vote was 1 in favor, 5 against.

M. Morrison requested that the committee vote on Option 5 and/or a multi-faceted approach. M. Morrison made a motion that the committee support a multi-faceted approach to include changing the library, using one portable and any other item that might be found. Seconded by S. Heinrich. S. Heinrich noted that this might be a way to show all avenues to be tried and still have a beneficial effect. He felt it also showed compromise. C. Morrison asked about reduction in class sizes. T. Levesque noted that class sizes will be reduced as another World Language teacher has been added. The vote was 5 in favor, 1 against.

T. Koenig suggested that he agreed that a multi-faceted approach without portables (Option #5 plus other things) would be a better idea. He noted concerns that renting two portables might not be economically sound. W. Morrison noted that the committee is concerned about both the short term gains and the long term results. K. Powell asked if there could be a few classrooms that could be designated as multi-purpose shared classrooms. T. Levesque noted that that is done, but avoided if possible. C. Morrison requested that the administration also include the idea of putting the 8th grade at the high school was considered and rejected.

On a motion from M. Morrison, seconded by S. Heinrich, the committee voted unanimously to adjourn at 8:36 PM.

Last Updated: April 1, 2003 by Wayne Morrison