Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Facilities Polson‑project topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Superintendent outlines Polson project impacts: gym and auditorium closure planned after spring vote
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Greg Cook told the Madison Board of Education that major work at Polson will begin after the town budget vote, closing the gym and auditorium in late April or mid‑May and aiming to have the gym ready by November to preserve winter sports, while lab renovation and other systems will take longer.
Dr. Greg Cook, superintendent of Madison Public Schools, updated the board on planned construction and renovation work at Polson and other district facilities, saying the project will have localized but manageable impacts and that the district is minimizing student displacement.
"We will be closing the gym and auditorium in late April, early May time frame, most likely after the town vote on the budget," Dr. Cook said, and added that scheduling the closure in spring makes it easier to have the gym available for the winter sports season after work is completed in November. He said laboratory renovations will take longer and are not expected to be finished in that November timeframe. He also said installation of air conditioning and a generator will affect some exterior spaces and food service operations, without detailing exact locations.
Cook said that, compared with earlier planning, the project’s impact on student placement is reduced: the district is not pursuing moving a full grade to other buildings this year. He told the board the town registrar of voters had agreed the district could use Polson as a voting site for the spring budget vote because of shared parking and access, and that signage would be used to direct voters.
The superintendent announced a planned board tour of the recently completed Brown project on Nov. 18 and said a public tour date for Neck River is being scheduled. He also introduced Matt Talbot, newly assigned principal of Westbrook High School and Middle School, and thanked staff and Madison Police for helping smooth traffic and busing at a newly opened school playground.
Cook provided a preliminary October 1 enrollment figure of 2,446 students and said an enrollment study is underway to evaluate shifts such as increased kindergarten counts at Neck River versus Brown. Several board members thanked staff and discussed upcoming facilities and finance committee meetings; no new facilities motions were made at this meeting.
The items were presented as part of the superintendent’s report; the board did not take formal action to change construction timing during this session.
