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Consultants recommend modest classroom reconfigurations, new breakout and wellness spaces across Winchester schools
Summary
SMMA recommended modest short‑term improvements across Winchester schools — dividing oversized high‑school classrooms, repurposing locker rooms at McCall for alternative PE, adding quiet dining and breakout spaces, and recommended demolition of unused modulars; accessibility and MEP constraints will be checked in feasibility.
SMMA presented a district‑wide set of modest master‑plan recommendations intended to improve program delivery without major new construction, focusing on classroom flexibility, wellness spaces and small‑scale capital improvements.
At Winchester High School, SMMA advised dividing six oversized classrooms at the ends of learning communities with fixed drywall partitions to increase scheduling flexibility and course offerings, so long as mechanical systems permit the change. Committee members cautioned that chilled‑beam systems and lighting/MEP configurations would need investigation before any partitioning proceeds.
For McCall Middle School, SMMA proposed converting basement locker rooms into an alternative PE/wellness space, creating a quiet dining area by subdividing a cafeteria addition and adding small group "pullover" breakout spaces closer to specialists. "These small group areas help with student support so students don't have to travel far to see a specialist," Rosemary Park said; SMMA will confirm whether any accessibility upgrades (CMR 5.21) are needed when the recommendations are fleshed out.
Across the elementary schools SMMA recommended targeted repurposing — adding STEM lab spaces, sensory rooms and relocating specialist offices as central office moves out of current school spaces. SMMA also recommended demolishing modular classrooms that are not in active use and noted two modulars at Ambrose and two at Morocco are nearing the end of their useful life.
Committee members asked SMMA to double‑check capacity counts where specialized learning centers or pre‑K classrooms were counted differently; SMMA agreed to provide a clearer space‑summary spreadsheet and to include footnotes describing whether counts are design‑capacity, operational capacity or include pre‑K. The consultants said cost and technical feasibility checks will follow in the feasibility phase.
