East Bridgewater School District Reports Smooth Start to Academic Year, Advances Building Project
Central School renovation plans move forward as district selects design firm
EAST BRIDGEWATER, MA - September 10 - The East Bridgewater School District has reported a successful start to the 2024-2025 academic year, with principals from all schools noting smooth operations and quick student adaptation to new routines. Superintendent Liz Legault shared the positive news at the September 10 school committee meeting.
"I can say with confidence that we are about three weeks more advanced than we were last year in terms of operations, enrichment, assessment, well-being efforts, and instructional efforts," said Jr/Sr High School Principal William Silva.
The district's preparedness was evident in several areas. Over 300 athletes, representing about one in three students, are participating in fall sports. The High School marching band has grown to more than 40 members, the largest in recent years.
Technology upgrades played a significant role in the successful opening. John Shea, School Business Administrator, reported that 300 new Chromebooks were prepared for grades three and seven. The district also installed a new music lab featuring 24 brand-new full-size pianos.
"If you get a chance, you need to take a look at it," Shea said, highlighting the impressive setup.
Other technology improvements included transitioning to a new managed IT service provider, installing a new access control system, and rolling out 16 new touch views in the high school. The district also removed 110 outdated teacher desktops from classrooms for security reasons.
Safety remained a priority, with 107 power strips replaced to mitigate potential hazards. Superintendent Legault emphasized the importance of community vigilance in maintaining a safe school environment.
"If you hear or see or think you see something or hear something, please alert the police and alert one of our schools," Legault urged.
In addition to the smooth start, the district made significant progress on the Central School building project. Dr. Gina Williams, Assistant Superintendent, announced the selection of KBA (Kaestle Boos Associates) as the design architect firm.
"It was unanimous amongst all 12 members that KBA was our top choice," Williams said.
The project timeline includes a year-long feasibility study, followed by two years of schematic design work. Williams estimated the district is about three years away from deciding on renovation, addition, or new build options for Central Elementary School.
"Ultimately we're about three years out before we're ready to go forward with whether it's renovation, addition, new build, whichever the combination we go with," Williams explained.
The school committee also discussed the district's strategic plan, which is set to expire in 2025. Superintendent Legault indicated that the next plan would build on current successes while addressing areas needing improvement.
"We would scaffold and continue to scaffold on the progress that we've made within this strategic plan," Legault said.