#MiddletownRI is a beautiful place to live, work and play. Local leaders want the new middle-high school to reflect the pride, sense of place and uniqueness of the community, with steps underway to guarantee the new building is special.
BACK TO OUR ROOTS
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (NOVEMBER 12, 2024) – When local leaders visited Saugus Middle-High School, the pride and sense of place of their new building were everywhere.
The front lobby had a beautiful trophy case filled with memorabilia, the school mascot was featured throughout and there were immense murals showcasing the town’s rich history.
Simply, the school and its unique branding shined throughout and could not have been anywhere other than the suburb about 15 miles north of Boston.
During a briefing with the Town Council, Town Administrator Shawn J. Brown said designers for Middletown’s new middle-high school met with Middletown Historical Society members.
The goal was to make sure Middletown’s new middle-high school has heart, spirit and individuality like the Saugus school that made such an impression in spring 2023.
“One of the elements of this project that we wanted to see was that what makes Middletown special are included in the school,” Brown said. “We don’t want to end up with a featureless brick building. We want to honor our past and how important our beaches, our open spaces, the natural beauty, the Navy and our agricultural roots are to who we are as a community today.”
Every two weeks, the council gets an update from Brown — or other members of the School Building Committee — at its regular meetings.
The aim is to make sure there are no surprises and everyone is up to speed. Those involved know it’s likely the biggest undertaking for Middletown in their lifetimes and there’s interest in what’s happening.
Go to https://mdl.town/NewSchool online to see more artist renderings of the building. Project maps are also posted in Town Hall, other municipal buildings and local schools.
Repeating a familiar refrain, Brown said the new school remained firmly “on time and on budget.” The school is slated to open for the first day of classes in the 2027 school year.
Last week, the school project earned master plan approval from the town’s Planning Board, a key step for groundbreaking in the spring of 2025. To view a presentation provided to the Planning Board, go to https://www.middletownri.gov/DocumentCenter/View/16877/Master-Plan-Presentation online.
Through the end of 2024, Brown said the architects and construction managers would hone their numbers about the cost of different elements.
From there, everyone will sit down and hash out exactly what everything will cost so there’s a firm grasp on what’s possible within the existing budget and there isn’t a need for major change orders during construction.
Brown said the council and School Committee will be asked to support a common labor agreement by Build RI to make sure the project has all the workers it needs.
Finally, he noted the council would also be presented at an upcoming meeting with a $350,000 project credit. The money comes from unnecessary supplemental architectural services for the design of mechanical systems at the current Middletown High building. That Valley Road structure will be remodeled and reused for grade 2-5 classes along with school administrative and maintenance offices.
“It’s not often that I can tell you we’re getting a credit this early in a project,” Brown said, drawing kudos from the council. “This is good and it speaks to the project team.”
Document Link: https://mdl.town/NYCU-Roots
About Middletown
The Town of Middletown is a vibrant municipality located on Aquidneck Island, known for its scenic beauty, historic landmarks, diverse economy and strong sense of community. For more information about all we have to offer, visit MiddletownRI.gov online.
Media Contact
Matt Sheley
Public Affairs Officer
401-842-6543
msheley@middletownri.com