Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 11/27/2023
LUDLOW — Superintendent Frank Tiano announced that Harris Brook Elementary School has been approved to become one of the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s new Model Schools.
“The people of this town invested in their children’s learning by building this beautiful new school. This model school designation serves as affirmation that they did it right,” Tiano added.
The Model School Program was created to effectively adapt and re-use the design of successful, recently constructed school buildings.
According to the MSBA website, “Model Schools are efficient in design and easy to maintain, contain optimal classroom and science lab space, can easily accommodate higher or lower enrollments, incorporate sustainable, ‘green’ design elements when possible and are flexible in educational programming spaces while encouraging community use.”
Model School Selection Criteria includes adaptability to other sites, design enrollment and varying educational programs flexibility for multiple and/or future uses differentiated learning spaces and student and teacher collaboration areas, general conformance to MSBA guidelines and energy efficiency and sustainable design elements.
According to Tiano, specific aspects of Harris Brook Elementary school is it houses four grades, and each grade level has a wing that is that grade level’s own specific learning neighborhood and a common area used by staff and students as breakout space for academic or social lessons and activities.
He added, “Classrooms are outfitted with flexible learning spaces and technology for 21st century teaching and learning. The cafeteria, library and gymnasium are at the center of the building for easy access to multiple community activities and events beyond the school’s use.”
Ludlow applied for the MSBA program as there was a need for a new school in town as Veteran’s Park and Chapin Street Schools were taken offline and combined to create Harris Brook.
MSBA approved approximately $27 million toward the $60 million Harris Brook Elementary School project.
After breaking ground in in June 2019, Harris Brook Elementary opened for students in September 2021.
Now entering its third year, the 106,000 square foot building is home to 618 students, grades 2-5, and over 90 professional and support staff members.
Tiano said, “Harris Brook is a great example of an elementary school environment designed to educate children in the 21st century and our students, staff and families benefit from it every day. I am grateful for the commitment of the building committee to shepherd a project of this size through to the finish line, as well as for the town leaders and citizens who recognized the need for not only a new school, but a new community facility, and dedicated themselves to filling that need.”
Building Committee Chair Dr. Michael Kelliher was excited to hear about Harris Brook Elementary being recognized as a model school.
“It’s an honor to see the hard work and creativity of all those involved in this project are being recognized,” said Kelliher.
School Committee Chair Jeffrey Laing added, “We want the best schools for our teachers in order to provide our children with the education that they deserve, and this project is a great step in that direction.”