Project History

April 2017

The Town of Norfolk and the Norfolk Public Schools established a space study committee. The committee was responsible for gathering and analyzing data regarding the potential impact of new development on student enrollment and for evaluating possible solutions for accommodating future growth.

The space study committee (composed of school and town representatives) explored several possible options including the development of an early childhood center, purchasing and/or leasing mobile classrooms, and renovating or expanding existing school structures.  After careful consideration, the Space Study Committee recommended moving forward with an expansion project at the Freeman-Kennedy School. 

November 2017

The Town voted at its November town meeting to fund a preliminary conceptual design study to determine whether or not a single building expansion project at the Freeman-Kennedy School could create enough classroom space to address projected enrollment growth across all grade levels, Pre-K through Grade 6.  Flansburgh Architects was hired to conduct the study. 

Spring 2018

The Norfolk Public Schools contracted with the New England School Development Council to complete a comprehensive demographic and enrollment study including a ten-year enrollment projection in order to evaluate future educational space needs.  

Fall 2019

Flansburgh completed the conceptual design study and the Norfolk Public Schools presented the results of the demographic analysis and the building expansion project recommendations to the Norfolk School Committee and Norfolk Select Board. 

Spring 2020-Spring 2022

In the Spring of 2020, the Norfolk School Committee and Select Board submitted an application to the Massachusetts School Building Authority for grant funding to offset the cost of a building project.  Unfortunately, Norfolk was not selected to participate due to the high number of applications the state received.  The School Committee and Select Board voted unanimously to resubmit applications in the Spring of 2021 and Spring of 2022, but were not successful.

May 2022

At the May town meeting, Norfolk residents voted to fund a full-scale feasibility study for an expansion project at the Freeman-Kennedy School without MSBA participation.  The article passed with a significant majority vote and the district solicited formal bids for an architectural firm to complete the work.  Five architectural firms submitted bids, and three were interviewed by a joint committee of school and town representatives.  Ai3 Architects was awarded the bid.  An updated demographic enrollment study was also completed.

Winter/Spring 2022

Ai3 conducted a full feasibility study for the Freeman Kennedy expansion project.  Several community forums were held to gather feedback and information from stakeholders and to keep the public informed of the feasibility progress.  Following completion of the feasibility study, the Norfolk School Committee planned to move forward with requesting funds for the design phase of the project.  Due to community concerns regarding the uncertain impact of the Covid 19 on the economy and the significant escalation in construction costs, a decision was made to expand the scope of the feasibility study to re-evaluate modular options or other possible solutions to ensure that a brick and mortar construction project was still the most cost effective and prudent solution to growing enrollment.

Nov 2023

The town voted to fund an expanded feasibility study and to establish a School Building Committee composed of school, town and community representatives, to oversee the process.  

Nov 2023-Fall 2024

The School Building Committee hired a new demographer and sought a second opinion on school enrollment forecasts in order to ensure confidence in anticipated growth numbers.  The Building Committee worked with Ai3 to conduct an expanded feasibility study of potential modular solutions.  Three modular designs were considered and cost estimates were solicited at two levels of finish for each design. Additionally new cost estimates were secured for a potential brick and mortar construction project.  At the conclusion of the expanded feasibility study, the School Building Committee and the Norfolk School Committee voted unanimously that a Brick and Mortar building expansion was the most cost effective and appropriate direction for the town.  

Fall 2024

The Norfolk School Committee submitted a warrant article to the town for consideration requesting funding to proceed into the design phase of the Freeman-Kennedy school expansion project.