School Committee authorizes facilities subcommittee to develop plan to move sixth grade to Auburn Middle School

The Auburn School Committee on March 26 voted to authorize the Facilities Subcommittee to develop plans and recommendations to expand Auburn Middle School to include sixth grade.

Committee members and subcommittee representatives said the recommendation follows months of work by the facilities advisory committee, review of the Harriman report, and enrollment projections. The goal stated by supporters is to align sixth-grade students with a middle-school model both academically and developmentally and to free classroom space in elementary schools for future reconfiguration.

Committee discussion identified topics the subcommittee must address in follow-up work, including transportation, food service, technology, band and other specials, scheduling, and how extracurricular offerings would be affected. A subcommittee member noted that the initial recommendation estimated reconfiguring existing space at Auburn Middle School could create the needed classrooms and that an addition might not be necessary; the committee said architects and further study will refine that estimate.

Chair called for the motion to authorize the Facilities Subcommittee; the motion carried. Members said the subcommittee will form an ad hoc sixth-grade inclusion committee and return with a plan and recommendations.

Ending: The Facilities Subcommittee will proceed to form an ad hoc committee and develop detailed plans, including architectural study, transportation implications and programming adjustments to support a sixth-grade move to Auburn Middle School.