A publication of Essex Media Group Publisher Edward M. Grant Chief Executive Officer Michael H. Shanahan Directors Edward L. Cahill John M. Gilberg Edward M. Grant Gordon R. Hall Monica Connell Healey J. Patrick Norton Michael H. Shanahan Chief Financial Officer William J. Kraft Chief Operating Officer James N. Wilson Controller Susan Conti Editor Thor Jourgensen Contributing Editors Gayla Cawley Sophie Yarin Writers Mike Alongi Bill Brotherton Allysha Dunnigan Daniel Kane Steve Krause Tréa Lavery Anne Marie Tobin Photographers Olivia Falcigno Spenser Hasak Julia Hopkins Advertising Sales Ernie Carpenter Ralph Mitchell Patricia Whalen Design Edwin Peralta Jr. INSIDE 4 What's Up 6 Looking back 8 Handymen 12 House Money 14 Claws applause 18 Ted Talk 20 Twist turner 23 Banner address 24 Brothers three 27 Rising Star 29 Shining her light 31 Market time 32 One big hug ESSEX MEDIA GROUP 110 Munroe St., Lynn, MA 01901 781-593-7700 ext.1234 Subscriptions: 781-593-7700 ext. 1253 <strong>01907</strong>themagazine.com LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER Spend a buck, OK? TED GRANT Are Swampscott voters prepared to invest $1 a day for a state-of-the-art school? I would hope so. The last time a new elementary school was proposed – in 2014 — it didn’t make it beyond Town Meeting, which must approve a ballot question to authorize the town’s portion of the cost to build the school. There is no debating the need, with the three existing elementary schools more than 90 years old on average. Superintendent of Schools Pam Angelakis has been clear in her message that the current schools simply do not have enough space for educators to provide 21st-century learning opportunities. And Lois Longin — the district’s former curriculum director and principal of both the Clarke and Hadley elementary schools — stated a succinct argument in favor in an interview with The Daily Item (“An educated opinion,” June 28). As educators, Pam Angelakis and Lois Longin are second to none in my estimation. Plus, Detective (and former School Committee member) Ted Delano, whom I also hold in high regard, endorses the new school in a story that begins on page 18. Furthermore, Tréa Lavery's coverage of the issue in The Item has been illuminating. So, I'm convinced. Under an improved reimbursement rate from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), the town would be responsible for $64 million of the estimated $98 million cost. By using financial reserves, the cost to the median, single-family taxpayer comes in at $365 per year. A buck a day. In addition to meeting the obvious educational needs of Swampscott students, deciding to build a new school will prevent Swampscott from striking out twice in the eyes of the MSBA, which would likely be in no hurry to approve future proposals from the town. The proposed new, town-wide elementary school will encompass all students from kindergarten to fourth grade in one building. Students from K to second grade will be in one wing, grades 3-4 in the other — thereby countering the mega-school argument — and they will share certain amenities including a library and media center, art classrooms and a gymnasium. The three current elementary schools are completely outdated. The oldest, Hadley, was built in 1911; the newest, Clarke, in 1952. This ranks Swampscott as having the fifth-oldest elementary school buildings in the commonwealth. The schools are no longer environmentally suitable for students or faculty. During the pandemic, the town had to make air-quality improvements to each building in order to allow students back in. Longin cited situations over the years wherein the air quality exacerbated or caused breathing problems in students and staff. In addition, the schools, which do not have the classroom space for all of their programming, have been host to pests, roof leaks, smells and who-knows-what-else for decades, Longin said. Combining the schools would also present an opportunity to combine resources. As Longin explained, many times the district's most needy students are not given the opportunity to learn from the teacher who might be best suited to them — simply because they attend a different school. In June, the MSBA, in approving the project, offered $34 million in grant funding — more than the administration had expected. Even before that, the projected cost had been decreased from the original estimate of $110 million to $97.5 million. Traffic is one of Swampscott's most often-cited concerns in every proposed construction project, and this is no exception. However, as Suzanne Wright, chair of the School Building Committee, has explained, the town has commissioned traffic studies adjusted for pre-COVID-19 traffic levels showing that the school will have no significant impact. The design team has come up with workarounds to mitigate the issues, including suggesting an expansion of the district's bus service so that fewer parents are driving their children to school, and staggering arrival times. The possibility of an eminent domain taking part of the Unitarian Universalist Church property on Forest Avenue for an exit is mitigated by the proposed exit being used only during drop-off and pick-up times, and would otherwise be gated. The design team has offered to place the road out of the way of the church's activities. Meanwhile, the school is located on the same property where the Stanley School stands, and none of the surrounding woodlands would be disturbed by the new building. The design is mindful of the environment in which it exists, incorporating native plants and creating opportunities to use the natural landscape in teaching. The proposed elementary school would not just be a boon for the students and families directly benefiting from it, but for all residents who would likely see their property values go up after its construction — as witnessed in Marblehead upon completion of the Glover School. Swampscott's elementary schools are severely lacking because of the town's failure so far to rectify the problem right in front of them: These buildings are falling apart, and they are beyond due for an upgrade. Swampscott simply cannot afford to not spend the buck a day. COVER Lobsterman Mike "Tuffy" Tufts has nothing but applause for claws. PHOTO BY Spenser Hasak 02 | <strong>01907</strong>
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