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School committee hears schematic update for Auburn Middle School to serve grades 6–8
Summary
Architects presented schematic designs to convert Auburn Middle School to a 6–8 model, describing classroom reconfiguration, small additions, secure vestibules, ADA upgrades and a 16‑month construction estimate pending final cost estimates and funding decisions.
Architects and district staff told the Auburn School Committee on Nov. 19 that schematic designs are in place to renovate Auburn Middle School and move sixth graders into a 6–8 configuration.
Mark Lee of Harriman, the project's architect, said the change is driven by developmental alignment and program efficiencies and would bring sixth graders into the same middle‑school cohort as seventh and eighth graders. "One of the things that we see...there's an alignment with where sixth graders are in their overall cognitive and physical development with the 7, 8 cohort," Lee said, explaining the rationale for the model and noting athletic and transition benefits.
Lee walked the committee through proposed scope items: modest additions to add two classrooms on the second level and a small lower‑level expansion; reconfiguring underutilized industrial/unified-arts space into teaming classrooms for sixth grade; creation of a secure vestibule at main entries; new STEM and art spaces (including a kiln room); multi‑user toilet renovations to meet current ADA dimensional requirements; waterproofing on a foundation wall that backs into the earth; and kitchen/servery upgrades to improve flow and capacity. He said some spaces will be displaced and rebuilt elsewhere in the building to maintain program needs.
On schedule and costs, Lee said the team is completing schematic design and will convert the plans into bid‑ready documents to get reliable cost estimates. "Once we start to really understand what it is that we're doing, then we can assign a cost to it," he said. The team is allowing nine months to develop phasing and bid documents and is contemplating about 16 months of construction work, with bid documents expected in 2027 and potential construction later that spring and summer, aiming for a start of the 2028 school year as a target completion window.
Superintendent Dr. Sue Doris and Assistant Superintendent Scott Anier framed the project within the facilities master plan and cited educational equity, sustainability, safety and economic responsibility as guiding principles. The committee heard that the project team is studying traffic impacts at the Court Street entrance with city and regional planning partners and is coordinating with the National Park Service regarding site‑easement issues.
Next steps include refining scope based on community and advisory‑committee feedback, producing cost estimates, and returning to the committee with more detailed numbers ahead of a funding decision. Committee members asked for comparative cost metrics and were told renovations vary widely by project, so the district will provide comparisons when cost estimates are available.
