New High School Cafeteria to be Ready in February [VIDEO]

Tour of high school construction given at School Committee meeting.

The School Committee and other meeting attendees were treated to a tour of the new addition at Norton High School Monday night. Tom O'Neil, project director at Pinck & Co., Inc. and Steve Roman, project manager of W.T. Rich headed up the tour, showing the group the beginning of the new cafeteria, science rooms and other areas. Along with the School Committee, selectmen chairman Tim Giblin and vice chairman Robert Kimball came along for the tour. Before February vacation, the new cafeteria will be utilized for lunch. The old one will be used as swing space for classrooms so that construction can commence in other areas of the building. Complete construction is to be finished in December 2013. “We are tracking right on schedule,” Roman said…

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PHOTO GALLERY: Visual Update on Norton High Construction

A ceiling and floors were put in after the steam beams were erected.

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Norton High Breaks Ground on $34 Million Project [VIDEO AND PHOTO GALLERY]

Norton High School students, teachers, town and state officials celebrate the start of renovations and expansion.

The town took another step towards beginning the $34 million addition and renovation of Norton High School Friday with the groundbreaking ceremony. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world,” said School Committee chairwoman Beth McManus, quoting Margaret Mead. “Norton’s thoughtful, committed citizens, by supporting the renovations of Norton High School, has given our teachers the tools that will be needed to successfully educate 21st century learners,” she said. “Many brilliant and immense things have happened in this building. I can only imagine the possibilities awaiting these students once this building is completed.” Last June, Norton voted to increase taxes for the project, which is …

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Groundbreaking for High School Addition to be Delayed

Septic component pushing project back up to eight weeks.

The groundbreaking for the new addition to Norton High School may not happen as early as hoped. “It may be delayed up to 6 to 8 weeks based on some EPA approvals we need for the septic system,” said Tom Golota, who is on the Building Project Committee. Originally, shovels were set to hit the ground early March, but because the sewer component of the project needs to be finished first, work cannot begin on the building. The school will forgo using a septic system and will instead be tied into the town's waste water system. Committee members believe the project completion goal of Dec. 30, 2013 is still attainable. “Right now all of the construction people involved feel there are some ways we can move things around and escalate some pieces …

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

NHS Looking Forward to Renovations, Track

Letter to the editor by NHS student Kaleigh Schleicher for a journalism assignment.

Dear Editor,       I am very excited for the new renovations at the Norton High School.  I believe this change has been long over due. A new track and bleachers have been added which will greatly benefit our athletes.  The old track was so dangerous that other schools were refusing to participate in events on it. This renovation will give everyone something to look forward too.       Other, new renovations will give everyone hope for a better education. Currently we have classrooms with no windows; the renovations will help to eliminate this and will be a positive change for our school.  I was so happy when the community voted yes for the new school improvements because it shows they care about us students. We are very grateful to be …

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High School Building Committee Reveals Latest Exterior Drawings

Five photos of what the outside of Norton High School will look like if the project passes.

High School Building Committee member Kevin O'Neil emailed the final exterior drawings proposed for the Norton High School project. Click through the gallery to see them. The project will go before voters at the Special Town Meeting scheduled for Monday, June 6, 7 p.m. and the Special Town Election Saturday, June 11.

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Kelly A. Mello

11:23 pm on Monday, May 23, 2011

Hello Puece, they are not proposing an entirely new building. The project aims to renovate the existing building while putting on an addition.   more ›

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Norton High Renovation Project – An Opportunity We Can’t Afford to Miss

Project to go before voters this June.

TO THE EDITOR: It is my hope that at this point most Norton residents are aware of the High School Renovation Project opportunity. If not, now is the time to get informed. If you do, you will quickly and easily see how this project can benefit us all in so many ways. Ensuring this project moves forward is important for all residents, whether you have children in the school system or not.   It is common knowledge that the Norton High School is in dire need of improvement. The building is 40 years old and has insufficient space for students and equipment, inefficient heating/electrical systems, outdated science labs, insufficient facilities to support today’s technology–and this list goes on. If you are unfamiliar with the extent to which …

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Celebrate the Past, Vote for the Future

Town's birthday parade the day after voting polls open.

Happy Birthday Norton On June 12th the citizens of Norton will line the road to watch a parade celebrating the 300th birthday of the town.  It will be a wonderful way to celebrate Norton’s past.  The day before the parade those same citizens will go to the polls to decide Norton’s future.  Norton has a chance to renovate the town’s High School and put on a much needed addition while being reimbursed for 64% of the cost.  Even with the reimbursement the cost is no small figure.  The projected cost of the project after reimbursement is likely to approach $11.5 million and will require a debt exclusion to be passed at the special Town Meeting on June 6th and also by vote at the polls on June 11th.  It seems like we have become a town of 2 …

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

High School Improvements will Lead to Better Home Resale Values

Letter from Kathy Portway of Success! Real Estate.

To the editor, When potential home buyers are looking to purchase a home, they consider all of the factors a town offers.  Towns that provide excellent educational opportunities for their students will always be at the top of a buyers’ list.   Savvy home buyers think about resale values!  As a resident of Norton I take great pride in providing information about its schools -- they are truly wonderful!  However, our high school is outdated and needs major improvements.  Failure to make those improvements will impact our homes' perceived values.  The renovation project to our high school will provide greater educational opportunities for its students, as well as increase the value of real estate in our town -- we ALL benefit!  Kathy Portway …

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Latest High School Building Presentation Tackles Town Meeting Questions, Design

Sewer connection needed for project to move forward.

The High School Building Committee made a presentation Tuesday night, notifying the public of changes made in the cost, proposed design of Norton High School and the questions being asked at the June 6 Special Town Meeting for the June 11 ballot vote. The Schematic Design submittal is due Friday, April 15 to the MSBA, and this meeting summarized that submittal. The most recent price tag for the project is $32,700,000 before MSBA reimbursement. With a 58 percent contribution, it will cost the Town of Norton $14,067,500. Up to 62 percent could be reimbursed. When that agreement [scope and budget] is negotiated, we will know exactly what the reimbursement rate is,” said project manager Margaret Wood of Pinck & Co., noting that the rate will …

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