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Winchester schools show summer work; Morocco gets cafeteria conversion and inclusive playground pieces
Summary
District officials reported a busy summer of facility work: Morocco School received a converted cafeteria, new flooring and inclusive playground equipment partly funded by ARPA; Lincoln and other elementary sites had playground upgrades; McCall roof work continues into September.
Winchester — School officials told the School Committee on Thursday that maintenance and renovation work across the district finished key projects ahead of the 2025–26 school year and that a number of remaining items will carry into early fall.
At Morocco Elementary, administrators converted a former library into a cafeteria and completed plumbing rough‑ins for hand sinks and a three‑bay sink. Doctor Hackett described completed painting and new hard surface floors, noting the school will receive a dedicated serving line and round tables previously used at Parkhurst. “It’s such a game changer to have an actual cafeteria at Morocco,” a committee member said.
The district said removal of old carpeting, abatement work and installation of new flooring were completed in many classrooms; staff also consolidated library services into two classroom spaces and moved books back this week. Morocco will also receive additional insulation under some overhang classrooms and HVAC improvements to control temperature and protect library collections.
Playground work was funded in part by the town’s ARPA allocation to support more inclusive play equipment: each elementary received pieces such as a spinner and wobble pods, and Lincoln gained a new accessible swing. VO (pre‑K and kindergarten) got surfacing upgrades. McCall remains on a roof‑work schedule that will run into September with staging in the side parking area.
District staff also reported that new teacher orientation and staff workshops took place in the past week; roughly 30 new hires attended orientation and building leaders will be in a leadership workshop the week before school opens. The district plans a ribbon cutting at one renovated site on the Monday after the meeting.
Facilities staff noted there are leftover sinks from Morocco’s renovation, available by request, and encouraged committee members and staff to view completed work; administrators also thanked outside partners and cited some vendor delays that were resolved over the summer.
What’s next: Remaining plumbing and electrical finishes are scheduled in the coming days; the district will monitor punch‑list items into September and hold a public ribbon cutting for completed work.
