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Date: 9/21/2021
WEST SPRINGFIELD – The West Springfield School Committee met on Sept. 14 to share both new and old information regarding school projects.
To begin, Superintendent Tim Connor shared his report. “I am happy to announce that we will be looking at the campus layout for possible redesign of Fausey parking lot, as well as Tatham. This will go into design this year, with the hope – some summer work – to get those redesigned for more efficiency around drop off and pick up, with an eye on safety, obviously.”
He explained that the asphalt around Tatham Elementary needs a lot of work. The goal is to repave that entire area. Connor looks forward to this project and extends his thanks to the mayor, Doug Mattoon, and the Department of Public Works (DPW) for their work on this.
Regarding the Coburn Elementary School updates, Dr. Vito Perrone, West Springfield’s assistant superintendent, said by December, the building’s roof will be impermeable.
“As we move through the winter, the exterior will be done and then they’re going to start with the interior and really developing the different spaces within the building,” he said.
Walking through the building now, Perrone said you are able to see the “superstructure” and metal framing including the gymnasium, cafeteria, auditorium, classrooms, etc.
Perrone said for the next School Committee meeting, he is hopeful to get a time lapse of the Coburn building being constructed, as it’s been live streamed throughout the entire process.
Connor said, “As excited as we’re getting for the new building, it’s bittersweet. Mrs. [Colleen] Marcus has spent so much time at the old building, and some of us who went through that at a junior high have memories, so we certainly want to capture the historical piece of that.”
Although someone will be capturing the memorable moments from the original Coburn building, Connor would like to provide an opportunity to the community, to go back to Coburn and have a walk through before the building is torn down.
The next School Committee meeting will take place on Sept. 28, 7 p.m., in the auditorium of the Municipal Office Building.