Newport, N.H., School District Building Committee Meets
Posted on: Friday, 8 July 2005, 00:00 CDT
Jul. 7--NEWPORT -- The Newport school building committee is back and may have a new look after the Newport School Board's July 21 meeting.
After meeting Wednesday evening, eight members agreed to begin working on a list of 12 to 15 names of voting members for the committee. The list will be presented to the board at its meeting.
It is a matter of effectiveness, Anthony MacConnell, the committee's board representative, said. The configuration of the committee during the last round of planning made it too easy for people to come and go according to their interest in the project, sometimes changing the course of the the plans within a meeting.
By firming up a set number of members committed to meeting every Wednesday during the next couple of months, the committee would be able to proceed smoothly, MacConnell said.
He added that the eight gathered Wednesday night would be included in the possible 12 to 15. Those present were: Tony DiPadova, Linda Dennis, Kenny Dennis, Leslie MacConnell, Leah Harrison, Alan Chase, the building manager, Barry Connell, high school principal and administrative representative, and MacConnell.
The board has charged the committee to look at a K-5, 6-8, 9-12 arrangement in the district, which would feature a new middle school building.
As a possible alternative to the board's charge, the committee also has begun discussion on further use of the existing space in the middle high school building, as well as possible renovations to Richards Elementary School.
By moving the sixth grade into Richards, five rooms would be freed up in the main middle high building.
"I was shooting for a good Volkswagen model rather than a Cadillac," Kenny Dennis said during discussion on expansion and renovations of the high school. "We're not getting a Cadillac in this community." With that in mind, he added, "We need to fix K-12." The group agreed deficiencies such as the availability of gym and cafeteria space, improved air circulation and reorganization of departments also would need to be addressed with such a plan.
MacConnell said once the voting members have been decided, two subcommittees will be formed to review both possibilities.
The group also appointed Chase, Kenny Dennis and Paul Brown to screen six architectural firms vying for the project, narrowing the list down to two or three choices. The board will then conduct interviews.
Names of the six firms were not available Wednesday evening.
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Source: Eagle Times, Claremont, New Hampshire
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