Where can I find regularly updated information about the elementary school project?

As the design team continues to study options for this study, they will be submitting periodic reports to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).  These reports will be made available for public review and will include detailed information to support decisions made along the way 

A Facebook page is currently being developed specifically for this project, and once complete, that will be shared with the community and posted here and on the schools' website as well. 

What are the educational limitations of Anna Barry elementary school?

The school has 30 classrooms averaging around 800 sq. ft. each. The building was designed for 400 students and is currently today at 357. They have to limit the amount of special education programs because of the lack of all 5 levels being handicap accessible. The school's current condition- including minimal electrical outlets to support 1:1 learning, lack of space for interventions, social emotional supports, and special education programming are a few of the many reasons why the Anna Barry ES will be replaced.  As a result of a collaborative analysis with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (the “MSBA”) of enrollment projections and space capacity needs for the proposed project at the Barry Elementary School, the City of Chicopee hereby acknowledges and agrees that the design of the proposed project at the Barry Elementary School shall be based on an enrollment of no more than 340 students in grades K-5 (plus pre-K students).

Are other sites being considered for the Anna Barry Elementary School?

Yes, the design team is working with the City, Planning Department and School Building Commission to identify and analyze other potential sites.  There are currently two locations that appear feasible, which are being studied further. 

What impact will a renovation or new construction project have on students?

If an addition or renovation or a combination of this were to be chosen for the Anna Barry School, the impact would be greater on the students, teachers and staff. Typically, during an addition or renovation, classrooms and admin areas are displaced throughout the construction process and moved to less desirable locations on the campus that may hinder learning, focus, and collaboration. Our main goal during construction is to reduce or eliminate any disruption to the learning environment while the construction is happening.

With the construction of a NEW elementary school building, the process is much smoother and an easier transition for the students, teachers, and staff. All the students will remain in the current building, without any disruption to any of their existing spaces while the new building is constructed to completion, along with the new furniture delivered and set-up and the building ready to be occupied. This will allow the students to move into the new building at the same time and ready to experience their new elementary school experience. 

As an example, the design team will identify critical testing periods into the project specifications, and require that all ‘noisy/disruptive’ work be paused during these timeframes.  Similarly, project requirements will prohibit construction traffic from entering or exiting the site during arrival and dismissal times