The Winthrop School Department has finalized the new Winthrop Public Schools grade configurations for the 2014-2015 school year while construction on a new Middle/High School commences. The plan was discussed at the last Winthrop School Committee meeting and approved.
Superintendent of Schools John Mancero said the final plan will locate grades PK through 3rd at the Gorman Fort Banks School, located at 101 Kennedy Dr. Grades 4 through 7 will be located at the Arthur T. Cummings School, located at 40 Hermon St. Finally grades 8 through 12 will be at Winthrop High Middle located at 141 Pauline St.
Macero said the projected class sizes for grades K through 7 would be approximately 24 students per class. The class sizes for grades 8 through 12 will depend upon enrollment.
Also the parking lot behind the Middle School is slated for improvements to increase parking capacity in that area.
Bus service fees for Gorman Fort Banks and Arthur T. Cummings schools will be waived during the transition.
Information on WPS transition plans is available on the SBAC website, http://school-building-assistance-committee.winthrop.k12.ma.us and also on Ron Vecchia’s “Community Forumâ€, WCAT Comcast Channel 3, which features an interview with John Macero and Norah Grimes that will air Thursday, May 15 at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 17 at 11:30 a.m.
Macero added that there would be more information will be forthcoming as our plans progresses.
In October the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) voted to approve the town’s plans to build a new Winthrop High/Middle School. Voters approved the project on November 5.
The plan is to tear down the existing high school and build a brand new facility that would house both a high school and middle school that would operate independently of one another.
Last January the SBAC voted 14-4 in favor of building a new Middle School and High School during a joint Winthrop School Building Assistance Committee/Winthrop School Committee meeting.
The cost of the project would be 82,950,000. The projected cost and cap set by Winthrop would be 42,975,000. The rest will be funded by the state. The next SBAC meeting is scheduled for April 28th at 6 p.m. at the Cummings School multi-purpose room.