Construction at North Reading Middle School has started, and the school building project is on track. According to middle school Assistant Principal Michael Maloney, the biggest change so far that will impact parents and students is the new traffic plan.
With the new traffic plan, students will no longer have to walk through an active traffic lane to get to a bus or vehicle. There is a lane for students traveling to school on a bus and a separate lane for students traveling to school in a vehicle.
Here are some directions provided by school administrators that parents should know before school starts: (the attached PDF shows the new pattern on a map and lists the directions.)
- Vehicles waiting in the Parent Pickup/Drop Off Lane should remain in single file with engines turned off.
- Students should not cross into any traffic lane at any time to access vehicles.
- U-Turns are not allowed.
- Please be aware of buses entering and exiting the traffic pattern.
- Only buses are allowed in the Bus Pickup/Drop Off Lane during the times of 7:30 to 8:15 a.m. and 2:00 to 2:45 p.m.
- There is no through traffic allowed in the parking lot from 7:30 to 8:15 a.m. and 2:00 to 2:45 p.m. Vehicles should use the Parent Pickup/Drop Off Lane to enter and exit the school. If conducting school business during these times, use one of the lower parking spaces to park.
If you notice a car accessing the parking lot during the drop off and pickup times, it is most likely a staff member as they will be using the parking spaces.
The middle school is hosting a “Walkabout” on Thursday, Aug. 30 from 9 to 11 a.m. for parents and students to familiarize themselves with the new traffic pattern and changes to the school.
The school administration will monitor the new plan when school starts and make any changes if necessary. Contact Maloney with questions: mmaloney@north-reading.k12.ma.us or 978-664-7806 ext. 235.
DR
1:49 pm on Monday, August 27, 2012
Ed - Once again you are trying to create an issue where no issue exists. No renovations are taking place at the middle school while school is in session. In order to make room for the new high school the modular class rooms at the middle school had to be relocated and the parking lots had to be reconfigured. This work has been completed (before the start of school). In no way does the new traffic pattern constitute a disruption to the students learning environment. Renovations to the middle school will be done once the new high school is complete. At that time the middle school students will be relocated to the old high school. All of this is consistent with the plan presented at Town Meeting. The only person who's credibility should be questioned is you.
Ed Canney
8:53 pm on Monday, August 27, 2012
DR you obviously don't read very well. The first sentence of the Patch's article states: "Construction at North Reading Middle School has started"
Perhaps your ire is best placed to the Patch.
I'll repeat it for you..,. "Construction at North Reading Middle School has started" so you won't miss it again.
Aim your misplaced vitriol at the article, not a reader.
DR
9:45 pm on Monday, August 27, 2012
Ed, perhaps you are the one who doesn't read very well. In your quest to find reasons to disparage the school building project you continue to jump to erroneous conclusions. Where in the article does it state that construction or renovations of the middle school will be on going while school is in session? Perhaps you also don't listen very well. Because if you did you would remember that construction timeline presented at town meeting clearly outlined that site prep work, consisting of relocation of modular class rooms at the middle school would be completed this summer before the start of the school year. If you read last weeks transcript you would also know that the work has been completed.
Ed Canney
11:52 pm on Monday, August 27, 2012
DR,"Construction at North Reading Middle School has started", means just that. Your post apparently clarified this sentence in the Patch's article as being incorrect. I assume you have knowledge that "Construction at North Reading Middle School has started" is incorrect and thank you for sharing that.
But please, your inference that the article does not say construction will continue, after it has been reported to start, is quite a stretch.
As to your reference to last week's Transcript, the previous week's police blotter reported "construction work at the Middle School on Sunday August 12th, 1:40 pm." Perhaps you may want to correct the Police Department that this was not construction work, but "relocation", and also refer them to the"construction timeline".
Ed Canney
9:52 pm on Monday, August 27, 2012
If I understood the plan presented by the SBC, the Middle School would be renovated only during "school vacations". There would be no disruptions during the school year. Seemed quite impossible to me at the time, but they were emphatic that there were to be be no disruption. I would refer the readers to the SBC public comments in the Transcript and Patch last Spring, as well as the Superintendent's presentation @ Town Meeting. I would think credibility would be an issue here, but that boat obviously has sailed. It would be helpful if the "press" held the the various committees and administrators to their promises. But it appears that boat sailed as well. One has to wonder if the fourth estate is operative in North Reading, at any level.
Barry
11:14 pm on Monday, August 27, 2012
Ed, with all respect, I don't think you read clearly. The article says "Construction at North Reading Middle School has started ..." It does not say that construction is ongoing at this time. The average Middle Schooler could understand that. Changing traffic patterns isn't "disruption", unless you consider any change to the way things have been done in the past to be a disruption. But then again, maybe you do, since you were so adamantly opposed to the project in the first place. Ed, it's time to get over it. The new schools are being built. You lost. If you don't like it, you're welcome to move. And in any case, there's no reason for you to be hanging around the Middle School, is there?
Ed Canney
2:32 am on Tuesday, August 28, 2012
With all due respect to you & DR, "Construction at North Reading Middle School has started" as reported by the Patch only seems to have a different meaning when you & DR stretch it with "but it does not say"
A legitimate publication stated construction has started at the Middle School. It appears from DR's post, that is incorrect. Fine. But to try and make a case that can be somehow misread! I would think it would be up to a publication to clarify the details of "construction has started" if in fact it has not.
Again with your welcome to move nastiness Barry! Just what have you done for the Town of North Reading? Ever serve in an appointed or an elected position? Ever coached any youth sports? Do you even pay taxes? You don't give your name on your many, many nasty posts. Your propensity is to be insulting to any who don't hold your views. Like I and others on these pages have told you many times...if you don't like our posts, don't read 'em.
Barry you are a bore, who has very little to say, thus resorting to personal attacks.
And what is this "hanging around the Middle School"? I haven't been there in 10 years.