Andover’s school population has changed significantly from when West Elementary and Shawsheen Preschool were built 70 & 98 years ago respectively and so has its needs.
- 52 languages are spoken in our schools,
- 1200 students qualify for Special Education services, and
- ALL of our elementary schools are at or above capacity.
Classrooms at West Elementary have been carved out of other spaces, such as the media center or old multi-use rooms or closets, often without suitable ventilation. Teachers adjust and compensate for the lack of appropriate space, but the educational programs are inevitably compromised. At Shawsheen, the small classrooms are not amenable to adaptive seating and adaptive equipment.
Examples of “Re-purposed Spaces” at West Elementary:
- A windowless storage closet was re-purposed for a speech therapy classroom.
- The auditorium stage is re-purposed for music class shared by two different teachers.
- A former performance stage was reconfigured into classroom space for the OT and PT programs and a speech classroom.
- A 5th grade classroom was re-purposed for a Kindergarten classroom although it lacks a bathroom like the 4 other Kindergarten classrooms.
- Gym equipment is stored on the floor of the gymnasium and in the hallways as there are no available storage closets and the basement is unusable due to issues with standing water.
Not only is more space needed to support these learners, but a new configuration of space is now required as education is more dynamic. Gone are the days when teachers delivered lessons to orderly rows of students in desks. Children learn in small communities now and need collaborative spaces for project-based work and differentiated learning groups. Teachers also benefit from these spaces to share best practices and innovation.
Having schools that accommodate 21st century students and learning models will preserve Andover’s reputation for academic excellence.
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