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Superintendent says new Wakefield Memorial High School remains on time and on budget; microgrid will link rooftop solar
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Lyons told the school committee the new Wakefield Memorial High School is on schedule and on budget with a planned move in January; the project includes a 5‑MW battery park (plus a 2.5‑MW generator) tied to rooftop solar that officials say will serve educational and peak‑shaving functions.
Dr. Lyons told the Wakefield School Committee on April 14 that the district’s new Wakefield Memorial High School (WMHS) construction is "on budget and and on time in terms of the schedule," and that staff expect to move into the building next January.
The superintendent opened his remarks with drone footage of the site and a walk‑through description of the facility’s layout, identifying the academic wing, a new gymnasium and an auditorium. He said the project team will work over April break to salvage usable materials from the old building and to prepare for the transition. Committee members who toured the site highlighted larger science labs, individual music practice rooms and expanded athletic facilities that they said will broaden curricular and extracurricular opportunities.
Dr. Lyons also described an energy partnership tied to the new school: a 5‑megawatt battery park, paired with a 2.5‑megawatt natural‑gas generator and connected to rooftop solar. He said the system will enable "peak shaving" — switching on‑site power during high‑cost periods to reduce energy bills — and that WMGLD and district staff (including Joanne Marks) will involve students in engineering and curriculum tie‑ins so the project can be used as a classroom learning opportunity.
Committee members praised the project’s instructional and extracurricular benefits. One member noted the new science labs’ capabilities and larger working spaces for band and choir.
Next steps include continued construction oversight, facilities work during school breaks to clear the old site, and preparation for the district’s move into WMHS after the winter break.
