Skip to main content

Dore Whittier Report

People keep referencing the Dore & Whittier Presentation...

What is it?  

A presentation/report given to the School Committee in 2012 by the Dore & Whittier Architectural firm.   

What did it seek to do?  

  • Solve the (former) Kennedy aging building problem and the pending (2015) Wilson/Kennedy enrollment imbalance. 
  • Consider a decision about the two oldest elementary spaces - Johnson and Memorial.


Options suggested for Memorial and Johnson (page 43)...


In this 2012 presentation, the ADA concerns were:

  • Johnson -  "no ADA accessible path from the School building to the play areas"
  • Memorial - "barriers to Handicap accessibility."
  • In the capital plan, Johnson is mentioned for needing accessibility and coding. 
ADA concerns were there in 2012 just as they are today. While we absolutely need to address this, I disagree with any process that is truncated because 10 years ago we did not take the time to figure it out. The only way forward is forward but let's do it in a careful way.

What about Enrollment predictions in 2012?  

MSBA does a 3 year prediction and thus this range was created from 2012-2015: 

Our enrollment numbers look different now (see below). 

Key, in 2012, to the elementary scenarios was the eventual enrollment at Kennedy & Wilson - NPS was hoping to achieve a balance eventually! ... At our last School Committee meeting on 10/15, we heard from the middle school principles that the balance has worked.


Here is the enrollment tool that Dr. Nolin put in her materials to indicate where students will eventually end up and how the schools will balance.  

A question I need answered: How will the redistricting of 1/3 of Johnson students to Lilja, maintain the desired balance to Kennedy and Wilson?

When I ask specifics like this, I receive answers like - the administration cannot put forth a plan without knowing the direction the committee wants to go in regarding these space needs.  Seems like a chicken and an egg problem to me - b/c with out knowing the plan of how this will impact the middle schools and the school capacities of the remaining 4 elementary schools, I do not have enough information to support any decision.

What did NPS decide to do upon receiving this report?  

  • Build a new Kennedy  ✅
  • Short term do the "do nothing option" for Johnson and Memorial   ✅ Page 5 lists the renovations (I'm assuming minor) that were new to each of the schools.
  • Eventually discuss rebuilds and renovation options in earnest. (That brings us up to today.)
In 2012 - there were several options given - Here are a few that I have not heard discussed in earnest in 2021 nor do I believe we will have the time to discuss if we are being pushed to make this vote by November 15th or December... 

Option 2B - Rebuild Johnson at the current space: 



Option 2E, Expand Johnson school and rebuild on a different site:
Option 4B, combine Memorial and Johnson Together: 
Finally, here are the cost breakdowns in 2012 $s.  


My point:  As a district and as a town, we have options and I truly hope that we will have a process that will allow us to understand those options in full. 


Popular posts from this blog

CPA, Library, Capital

The Community Preservation Act Article 21 passed Town Meeting by a 104 to 16 vote.  This means the town will VOTE on it at the Fall election in November, 2022. For the details of the debate from tonight on the CPA  and some of the other topics, please see these notes. This is not official nor is it complete. This is simply a best effort to capture what was said.  The Morse Institute, Bacon Free Library passed easily. " The library is the essence of democracy in that people can educate themselves freely."   - heard in debate tonight.  Capital Plan, passed after questions about:  Changing our police vehicles to hybrid and/or electric when available Why we change 20% of our cruiser fleet every year (hard use of vehicles)  The Stand Up Gas powered Blower had a few moments in the spot light - it was identified that while it is noisy, Natick has no Noise ordinance and while electric models are available, the batteries do not last enough.  Ladder truck...
Read more

Statement on Recusal

Here are the remarks I gave last night when letting my committee know my decision to recuse:  After the School Committee meeting on October 15th, several individuals wrote into the SpeakUp Natick portal requesting that I recuse myself from voting on the possible closure of Johnson.  The substance of these messages, sent to the full committee, carried a familiar refrain. The messages - often using the same language – said some version of the following:  Catherine Brunell should recuse herself from deliberating and voting on the closure of Johnson because she lacks objectivity, as her children go to school there and she is from that neighborhood. I asked myself the question if there was any merit to the request for me to recuse myself and started to do some research about why people recuse  From what I can tell from the minutes, in Natick, It’s never happened before - not with the Kennedy, Wilson or the High School - not even for members whose children were to attend t...
Read more

June Meetings

ALMOST :) The Natick School Committee meets tonight, Tuesday June 7th and again next Monday, June 13th in preparation for the Evaluation Retreat meetings that we hold in person on June 22nd, 27th and 29th.   As always , you can join us in person on the 3rd floor of Town Hall and to most of our meetings, virtually. (Retreat style meetings are not on zoom or pegasus.)  The Zoom Link, Agenda and materials are here . We have the aim of starting the public session at 7:00 p.m. tonight (Executive session first.)   School Committee Items On Tap: Discussion of the Vaccination Policy for Staff, Vendors, Contractors and Volunteers Anti-Discrimination Policy recommendation from the Policy Sub Committee to the full Committee.  Strategic Plan Update & End of Year Superintendent Evaluation Dyslexia Update  3rd Quarter and End of Year Financials Update Enrollment Update   Strategic Plan of the district . On the Anti Discrimination Policy, we worked for nearl...
Read more