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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. 


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