Background
Vision
Statement
Design
Site
Plan
Construction
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Town
voters overwhelmingly approved $38.7million in June 2001 for
the expansion and renovation of Canton High School.
Canton
High School currently consists of three separate buildings,
all of which are older than our middle school and the elementary
schools. Building A was built in 1948, Building B was
built in 1958, and Building C was built in 1963. They
have not undergone substantial renovation since they were
built. Accreditation review in 1990 directed attention
to the outdated science and library facilities.
The
effort to modernize and expand Canton High School began five
years ago with the realization that the science facilities
were totally out of date and in need of new infrastructure.
Updating the science facilities was found to impact the rest
of the school, and similar needs were identified throughout
the school over the next two years of planning. Several
options were developed and analyzed. Options included
building only a new science wing, renovating all three buildings,
and even building a new school. However, study showed that
it would be more expensive to renovate the classroom space
in Building A than to replace the space. In addition,
student travel among three separate buildings creates security
risks and makes the campus inaccessible to some handicapped
students. Since our buildings are structurally sound, a new
school would not be reimbursed by the State.
The
project voted by the town unifies the present Buildings B
and C. It was chosen over other options because it:
- provides
the most improvement for the least cost to the town.
- corrects
the deficiencies in the science facilities, library/media
center, cafeteria, and gym noted in the 1990 and 2001 accreditation
reports by the New England Association of Secondary Schools
and Colleges.
- is
eligible and now approved for state reimbursement.
- provides
full ADA access.
- increases
energy efficiency and eliminates structural and environmental
hazards.
- greatly
increases security.
- promotes
21st-century education emphasizing hands-on,
small-group, and technologically-supported instruction.
- provides
space for our increasing enrollment.
Since
the project was approved in June 2001, the accrediting association,
NEASC, again visited Canton High School and this time went
further than they did in 1990. NEASC placed CHS on warning
for deficiencies in school facilities. |
