North Andover officials outline $79.8 million plan to rebuild Kittredge Elementary School

Laura Bates, a member of the select board and chair of the Kittredge Elementary School Building Committee, opened a community forum March 30 to present the committee’s preferred plan for a new Kittredge Elementary School and to invite public feedback.

Pam Lathrop, superintendent of North Andover Public Schools, said the existing Kittredge facility has served the town for more than 70 years but “has surpassed its useful life” and lacks accessibility, dedicated art and music spaces, and sufficient special-education support. “The new Kittredge Elementary School is providing for the district educational needs… and is about providing a responsible multifunctional space for the community at large,” Lathrop said.

The town’s owner’s project manager, Phil Palumbo of Colliers, said the preferred solution chosen after the feasibility study is a ground-up replacement. He outlined a projected timeline tied to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) grant process: the schematic design was submitted in December and approved by the MSBA board in February; if voters and town meeting approve the project (Palumbo noted a two-thirds vote is required at town meeting), detailed design would span about 12 months, bidding would be targeted in summer…