Facilities History - Windham School Disrict
October 2002
Windham High School students attending Salem High School.
Windham has no public kindergarten. State of New Hampshire was offering a grant program to cover 80% of construction costs of kindergarten facilities.
February 2003
Windham identifies need for a new Elementary School by 2008-2009. District determines that it will hold off on Kindergarten construction until a new Elementary School is built. New Elementary School School is part of CIP budget.
September 2003
School Board member suggest that projected enrollment figures are "off" and that new Elementary School may not be need until 2009/2010 school year. New school still part of CIP budget.
2004
CIP takes new Elementary School "off the books".
2005
School Board and Selectman recognize the town’s growing student population and develop a Facilities Planning Committee. The Planning Committee identifies a new Middle School as a community need in the near future.
At the same time, it becomes apparent that Windham will need to build a high school as the Area Agreement with Salem is ending. Land on London Bridge Road is chosen, as there is sufficient acreage for both a High School and a Middle School on that site.
March 2005
Bond passes to purchase land on London Bridge Road and construct Windham’s first high school. A citizens group, WIRE, was instrumental in promoting the project and worked countless hours to get the bond passed.
2007
The State of New Hampshire mandates that public kindergarten be offered in all districts, and sets a deadline of the 2009-2010 school year to comply with the mandate. Prior to the mandate, the State was offering to fund 80% of construction costs of new kindergartens, which Windham failed to take advantage of.
2009
Windham High School opens with freshman and sophomore classes, three years after bond approved by voters.
In order to comply with the state mandate to offer half-day kindergarten, Windham uses state funds to lease a ten-room portable and puts it at Golden Brook School.
The School Board proposes funding for a formal Facilities Master Plan to the Windham Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The plan is to evaluate the District’s schools and forecast student population and develop a 10-15 year Facilities Master Plan. Amount for this study is $300,000, to be funded over two years.
January 2010
State legislators and lobbyists begin reporting that there will be severe cuts to educational building aid to affluent towns. We learn that if we act immediately, we may have access to $10M in aid for new construction. A group of residents got a petition signed by over 200 residents and presented to the School Board, asking for them to put a warrant article for $30M on the March Ballot for construction of a new Middle School on London Bridge Road. Board votes against. By November, all state building aid is suspended except for kindergarten construction.
March 2010
$160,000 for the first half of the Facilities Master Plan is approved by the voters. Architects Lavallee Bresinger hired to lead the facilities master planning effort, and a committee is formed, including architects, administration, school board members, teachers and citizens.
November 2010
All state building aid is suspended except for kindergarten construction. Permanent kindergarten addition to GBS is added to the list of Warrant Articles for the March 2011 ballot. Plan does not include enough classroom space to accommodate full-day kindergarten.
December 2010
Facilities Planning Committee presents preliminary findings to School Board. The full facilities plan can be found here.
March 2011
$140,000 for the second half of the Facilities Master Plan approved by voters. Monies for construction of a permanent kindergarten wing at Golden Brook School is approved by the voters.
June 2011
Facilities Master Planning Committee presents final report to School Board, recommending an addition to the Middle School (Phase 1) and renovations to Golden Brook School (Phase 2).
July 2011
State changes funding for kindergarten projects. Windham receives less than anticipated.
August 2011
CIP committee allocates $711,000 of CIP funds to continue forward with the Facilities Master Plan.
October 2011
School District Special Meeting is held to decrease the amount of money appropriated for the Kindergarten in order to uphold the promised amount of $900,000 local taxation. Approved by the voters.
School Board reviews Facilities Master Plan and seeks a second opinion from the Turner Group with the expectation that the project can be completed at a lower cost. Specifically, the Board "questioned if the $10 million range were a possible option" to solve capacity issues. The School Board then decides to support a new 7th/8th Grade Building at London Bridge Road instead of an addition to the current Middle School as was recommended by the Facilities Master Planning Committee. Justification for the decision was based on the prospect of future expansion , cost (new vs. addition were about the same), location (new creates a campus environment with the high school and sharing of facilities). The Board meeting minutes reveal that there was a great deal of "sticker shock" about the following figures:
Cost structures presented by Facilities Master Planning Committee:
Middle School Options, Phase 1 :
Elementary School Options, Phase 2:
December 2011
The Trident Group and the Turner Group present their findings in a Public Forum. Turner Group agrees with Lavallee Bresinger’s estimated costs for an addition to the Windham Middle School. Turner Group presents conceptual drawings of 7th/8th building on London Bridge Road.
March 2012
Warrant Article on Ballot to appropriate $711,000 for building architectural and engineering fees that would allow the Board to present voters with a highly accurate bond estimate in 2013. Voter approval of this Warrant Article will ensure that a bond to build a new 7-8 school is on the ballot in 2013. This article Failed.
Warrant Article on Ballot proposing to improve the situation at the Middle School and would have moved 175 (7 classes) of 5th grade students to a portable at an already overcrowded school. This article Failed.
July 2012
Preschool facility opens at Windham High School, taking 2 classrooms of instructional space from the WHS facility.
August 2012
Kindergarten addition opens at Golden Brook School. Within a year, the open space outside the kindergarten classrooms is converted to “flex” space with modular walls.
March 2013
School District Ballot includes proposed 7/8th Grade School and Turf Fields, to see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of thirty-one million Dollars ($31,000,000) for the purpose of constructing and equipping a new school and related fields on London Bridge Road and upgrades to Windham High School fields to include turf surface, lighting, and seating. Warrant Article Fails
A citizens group, WINS, worked around the clock to get this Warrant Article passed. Prior to the election, the Windham Taxpayers Coalition distributed a flyer that stated the $38,950,000 bond to build would ultimately cost tax payers $57,000,000.
August 2014
Portable at GBS demolished due to mold and leaking. Four third grade classes moved to High School, enrichment classes moved to cart at all elementary schools.
March 2015
No facilities option on Ballot.
March 2015
A Citizens Petition appeared on the School District Ballot for a $15M expansion to Golden Brook School. Citizens petition failed.
April 2015
Preliminary figures by the newly formed Citizens Facilities Committee estimate the Golden Brook School project to cost $17.2 million.
Windham LINK suggested that the Citizens Facilities Committee revisit the Facilities Master Plan that the District spent $300,000 to develop in 2011 and 2012. That Plan contains numerous options that were full vetted by staff, administration and community members.
Windham LINK also raised questions and public awareness about the Citizens Facilities Committee recommendation, in March, 2015 and again in April, 2015.
June/July 2015
Building and Grounds Committee formed. Board members requested that a town wide survey be conducted to determine if residents would support a construction project.
March 2016
Golden Brook School Construction project appears on School District Ballot as Warrant Article asking voters to approve $38.9M for the project. Warrant article failed.
Citizens petition appears on Ballot asking voters to approve $4.2 for a track, field and turf at Windham High School. Warrant article failed.
March 2017
Warrant Article 2, to be voted on March 14, asks for voters to approve $38.1M for an addition to Golden Brook School and renovations to Windham Middle School. Article requires a ⅗ majority to pass.
*This Facilities History has been compiled over the last 14 years. Any omissions or errors are not purposeful. If you have facts to add or a correction, please use the Contact Us form. Thank you for you assistance.
Windham High School students attending Salem High School.
Windham has no public kindergarten. State of New Hampshire was offering a grant program to cover 80% of construction costs of kindergarten facilities.
February 2003
Windham identifies need for a new Elementary School by 2008-2009. District determines that it will hold off on Kindergarten construction until a new Elementary School is built. New Elementary School School is part of CIP budget.
September 2003
School Board member suggest that projected enrollment figures are "off" and that new Elementary School may not be need until 2009/2010 school year. New school still part of CIP budget.
2004
CIP takes new Elementary School "off the books".
2005
School Board and Selectman recognize the town’s growing student population and develop a Facilities Planning Committee. The Planning Committee identifies a new Middle School as a community need in the near future.
At the same time, it becomes apparent that Windham will need to build a high school as the Area Agreement with Salem is ending. Land on London Bridge Road is chosen, as there is sufficient acreage for both a High School and a Middle School on that site.
March 2005
Bond passes to purchase land on London Bridge Road and construct Windham’s first high school. A citizens group, WIRE, was instrumental in promoting the project and worked countless hours to get the bond passed.
2007
The State of New Hampshire mandates that public kindergarten be offered in all districts, and sets a deadline of the 2009-2010 school year to comply with the mandate. Prior to the mandate, the State was offering to fund 80% of construction costs of new kindergartens, which Windham failed to take advantage of.
2009
Windham High School opens with freshman and sophomore classes, three years after bond approved by voters.
In order to comply with the state mandate to offer half-day kindergarten, Windham uses state funds to lease a ten-room portable and puts it at Golden Brook School.
The School Board proposes funding for a formal Facilities Master Plan to the Windham Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The plan is to evaluate the District’s schools and forecast student population and develop a 10-15 year Facilities Master Plan. Amount for this study is $300,000, to be funded over two years.
January 2010
State legislators and lobbyists begin reporting that there will be severe cuts to educational building aid to affluent towns. We learn that if we act immediately, we may have access to $10M in aid for new construction. A group of residents got a petition signed by over 200 residents and presented to the School Board, asking for them to put a warrant article for $30M on the March Ballot for construction of a new Middle School on London Bridge Road. Board votes against. By November, all state building aid is suspended except for kindergarten construction.
March 2010
$160,000 for the first half of the Facilities Master Plan is approved by the voters. Architects Lavallee Bresinger hired to lead the facilities master planning effort, and a committee is formed, including architects, administration, school board members, teachers and citizens.
November 2010
All state building aid is suspended except for kindergarten construction. Permanent kindergarten addition to GBS is added to the list of Warrant Articles for the March 2011 ballot. Plan does not include enough classroom space to accommodate full-day kindergarten.
December 2010
Facilities Planning Committee presents preliminary findings to School Board. The full facilities plan can be found here.
March 2011
$140,000 for the second half of the Facilities Master Plan approved by voters. Monies for construction of a permanent kindergarten wing at Golden Brook School is approved by the voters.
June 2011
Facilities Master Planning Committee presents final report to School Board, recommending an addition to the Middle School (Phase 1) and renovations to Golden Brook School (Phase 2).
July 2011
State changes funding for kindergarten projects. Windham receives less than anticipated.
August 2011
CIP committee allocates $711,000 of CIP funds to continue forward with the Facilities Master Plan.
October 2011
School District Special Meeting is held to decrease the amount of money appropriated for the Kindergarten in order to uphold the promised amount of $900,000 local taxation. Approved by the voters.
School Board reviews Facilities Master Plan and seeks a second opinion from the Turner Group with the expectation that the project can be completed at a lower cost. Specifically, the Board "questioned if the $10 million range were a possible option" to solve capacity issues. The School Board then decides to support a new 7th/8th Grade Building at London Bridge Road instead of an addition to the current Middle School as was recommended by the Facilities Master Planning Committee. Justification for the decision was based on the prospect of future expansion , cost (new vs. addition were about the same), location (new creates a campus environment with the high school and sharing of facilities). The Board meeting minutes reveal that there was a great deal of "sticker shock" about the following figures:
Cost structures presented by Facilities Master Planning Committee:
Middle School Options, Phase 1 :
- Making WMS 5-8 = $16.2M. Adding fields would be +$4M = Total $22M
- New 5-8 Middle School on London Bridge Road with fields and turf = $45M, servicing 1.000 students.
Elementary School Options, Phase 2:
- Keeping Quads, eliminating pods, adding gym and upgrading media center, Pre-K-3= $25M-$29M
- Two Story Addition, keeping pods, Pre-K - 3= $21.5M
- Bare basics upgrades Pre-K- 2 Model = $16.2M
December 2011
The Trident Group and the Turner Group present their findings in a Public Forum. Turner Group agrees with Lavallee Bresinger’s estimated costs for an addition to the Windham Middle School. Turner Group presents conceptual drawings of 7th/8th building on London Bridge Road.
March 2012
Warrant Article on Ballot to appropriate $711,000 for building architectural and engineering fees that would allow the Board to present voters with a highly accurate bond estimate in 2013. Voter approval of this Warrant Article will ensure that a bond to build a new 7-8 school is on the ballot in 2013. This article Failed.
Warrant Article on Ballot proposing to improve the situation at the Middle School and would have moved 175 (7 classes) of 5th grade students to a portable at an already overcrowded school. This article Failed.
July 2012
Preschool facility opens at Windham High School, taking 2 classrooms of instructional space from the WHS facility.
August 2012
Kindergarten addition opens at Golden Brook School. Within a year, the open space outside the kindergarten classrooms is converted to “flex” space with modular walls.
March 2013
School District Ballot includes proposed 7/8th Grade School and Turf Fields, to see if the District will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of thirty-one million Dollars ($31,000,000) for the purpose of constructing and equipping a new school and related fields on London Bridge Road and upgrades to Windham High School fields to include turf surface, lighting, and seating. Warrant Article Fails
A citizens group, WINS, worked around the clock to get this Warrant Article passed. Prior to the election, the Windham Taxpayers Coalition distributed a flyer that stated the $38,950,000 bond to build would ultimately cost tax payers $57,000,000.
August 2014
Portable at GBS demolished due to mold and leaking. Four third grade classes moved to High School, enrichment classes moved to cart at all elementary schools.
March 2015
No facilities option on Ballot.
March 2015
A Citizens Petition appeared on the School District Ballot for a $15M expansion to Golden Brook School. Citizens petition failed.
April 2015
Preliminary figures by the newly formed Citizens Facilities Committee estimate the Golden Brook School project to cost $17.2 million.
Windham LINK suggested that the Citizens Facilities Committee revisit the Facilities Master Plan that the District spent $300,000 to develop in 2011 and 2012. That Plan contains numerous options that were full vetted by staff, administration and community members.
Windham LINK also raised questions and public awareness about the Citizens Facilities Committee recommendation, in March, 2015 and again in April, 2015.
June/July 2015
Building and Grounds Committee formed. Board members requested that a town wide survey be conducted to determine if residents would support a construction project.
March 2016
Golden Brook School Construction project appears on School District Ballot as Warrant Article asking voters to approve $38.9M for the project. Warrant article failed.
Citizens petition appears on Ballot asking voters to approve $4.2 for a track, field and turf at Windham High School. Warrant article failed.
March 2017
Warrant Article 2, to be voted on March 14, asks for voters to approve $38.1M for an addition to Golden Brook School and renovations to Windham Middle School. Article requires a ⅗ majority to pass.
*This Facilities History has been compiled over the last 14 years. Any omissions or errors are not purposeful. If you have facts to add or a correction, please use the Contact Us form. Thank you for you assistance.
