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Cumberland outlines multi-year capital work; BF Norton replacement advances to site work
Summary
School leaders and Colliers project managers reported on completed summer renovations across the district and gave an update on the new B.F. Norton elementary school, which is entering site work with a groundbreaking planned in about two weeks.
Megan Havrilla, a project manager with Colliers Project Management, and Anne Marie Andre provided a districtwide update to the Cumberland School Committee on Thursday on completed and upcoming capital projects, including a new replacement school for B.F. Norton.
Havrilla told the committee that the district has completed the five-year capital plan with RIDE that dates to 2019 and that multiple school renovations finished this summer, including swing-space work at the high school, interior renovations at Community Elementary and Garvin Memorial, and playground improvements at Ashton, Cumberland Hill and Garvin Memorial.
Anne Marie Andre said crews renovated six science classrooms at McCourt Middle School and a similar set of classrooms at North Cumberland Middle School, upgrading plumbing, new prep rooms, luxury vinyl tile flooring, new lighting and flexible furniture to support science instruction.
Work in the transitional building (upper level) included renovations for preschool classrooms and a CTE classroom, new millwork and storage, upgraded toilet and reflection rooms, and an open renovated central media area, Andre said. She also reported a significant flat-roof replacement at the main high school building that was completed over spring break.
The committee also received details about the new B.F. Norton Elementary School. Havrilla described the building as a 64,500-square-foot, K–5, four-track school designed for 576 students, and said site work had begun with cleaning and grubbing; she said a groundbreaking ceremony was expected in about two weeks. Renderings shown to the committee depict an academic wing and a separate community zone that contains the gymnasium and cafeteria, and the design includes learning commons, a dedicated media/STEM area and varied student dining configurations.
Havrilla and Andre emphasized construction safety and circulation plans for the active B.F. Norton site, including a fenced construction area, blackout work hours during student drop-off and pick-up, and an on-site circulation path intended to prevent queuing on Broad Street. She said the project will relocate the Veterans Memorial to the front of the site and that the existing B.F. Norton building will be removed in a final phase to create staff parking and community space, with demolition beginning as the project nears completion in mid-2027.
The Colliers team identified Constigli Construction as the district’s construction partner and asked that staff, parents and contractors follow posted safety protocols during active work. Superintendent Dr. Thornton and staff thanked custodial and central office teams for their summer work that supported the projects.
Committee members asked clarifying questions about capacity and timing. A committee member confirmed that the new B.F. Norton will convert the school from a three-track to a four-track configuration to increase capacity; Havrilla said the new building is scheduled to open in 2027 with demolition of the old building and parking work to follow.
The presentation concluded with the committee thanking the Colliers team and construction partners for the summer work and noting there will be continued coordination with building principals as phases complete.
