This update includes:

• Board Approves New Middle School
• Key Dates
• Building Committee – November Meeting Summary
• Resources
• Sign Up for Email Notifications

Board Approves New Middle School

On October 23, 2025, the Board of Education approved the replacement and construction of Rundlett Middle School at its current location, 144 South Street, with a not to exceed net cost of $155,781,801, including credits and rebates of $13,580,679.

Key Dates

• November 12 & 13 – CPT Test
• November 17 - Geothermal test well
• December 3 – Building Committee meeting
• January 6 - Architectural Design Review Commission
• January 15 – Submit Alteration of Terrain permit
• January 21 - Planning Board
• February 21 – Building Permit Site prep
• April 1 - 60 % Construction Documents & Early Bid Package
• May 1 - 60% Estimate

Building Committee Meeting – November 6, 2025 - Summary

🏫 Meeting Overview – Slide Presentation

• HMFH presented updates on the design and planning of the new school building, focusing on:
  • Academic team pods
  • Auditorium
  • Gymnasium and multi-purpose spaces
  • Art classrooms
  • Construction timeline and bidding process
• Future Building Committee meetings
  • December - Main Street, Media & Career Pathways (Food Tech, Robotics & Wood Shop)
  • January - Exterior, Site & Traffic

🧩 Academic Team Pods

• Structure: Nine identical pods (3 per floor across 3 floors)
• Features – Team Pod Video Overview

• Three core classrooms + 1 science lab per pod
• Small group room and flexible instruction space
• Lockers, water stations, and single-user restrooms
• Teacher planning room, lactation room, and science prep room
• Additional classroom per pod for future flexibility

• Design Intent: To support inclusive education, intervention services, and flexible use for evolving educational needs.
• Feedback

• Teachers appreciated the flexibility for meetings, interventions, and project work.
• Concerns raised about space usage and accessibility for students with disabilities.

🎭 Auditorium

• Design: Highly flexible with retractable seating (up to 450 seats), balcony (105 seats), and multiple configurations for performances, assemblies, and athletic events.
• Features – Auditorium Video Overview

• Backstage Support: Includes dressing areas, restrooms, and access to music rooms.
• Technology: Pipe grid for lighting and scenery, projection screen and acoustical reflectors

• Community Use: Designed for school and public events with accessible restrooms and secure zones.

🏀 Gymnasium & Multi-Purpose Spaces

• Location: Gym on the second floor; multi-purpose PE room on the ground floor.
• Features – Gymnasium Video Overview

• Full gym seats 900 (bleachers fully extended)
• Configurable for assemblies, competitions, and graduation
• Accessible with ramp from first floor to second floor and two elevators
• PE offices with visibility into gym and multi-purpose rooms

🎨 Art Classrooms

• Design: Three identical rooms with two prep spaces (one with kiln), teaching walls, pinup areas, and cabinetry. RMS has three art rooms that are sized differently.
• Lighting: North-facing windows and clearstory lighting for natural daylight.
• Gallery Space: Corridor near gym will serve as a student art gallery.
• Usage: Active all day with enrichment and WIN time activities.

🗓️ Construction Timeline & Bidding – Key Dates

• Key Dates

• November 12 & 13 – CPT Test
• November 17 - Geothermal test well
• January 6 - Architectural Design Review Commission
• January 15 – Submit Alteration of Terrain permit
• January 21 - Planning board
• February 21 – Building Permit Site prep
• April 1 - 60 % Construction Documents & Early Bid Package
• May 1 - 60% Estimate

• Early Bid Packages: For foundations and steel to accelerate timeline.

🏟️ Athletics During Construction

• Temporary Field Use

• Preliminary discussions on partnerships with NHTI, Merrimack Valley, city parks, and other schools.
• Middle school to use Memorial Field; high school may relocate practices.
• Final plan pending meetings with city and partners.

🏷️ Naming the New School

• Policy 735: Guides the process for naming new schools.
• Community Involvement: Students and public will be engaged in naming in the naming process, would like to start it sooner than later.

Resources

Middle School Project webpage: Middle School Project Page This page includes the school building aid application, the full 2022 Preliminary Design Study and documents, reports and presentations by year.

Sign Up for Email Notifications

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