Winter 2003

The Concord School Board identified the need and priority for developing a master plan for the elementary school facilities in Concord.  

Summer 2003

The Board hosted formal presentations on developing master planning from three different consulting firms that specialize in school master planning.

Fall  2003

The Board met with city leaders about the city’s master planning process and decided to use the city’s consultant for demographic data to provide school projections.

Winter 2004

The Concord School Board issued an RFP for a consultant to study elementary facilities and facilitate the community conversation about the future of elementary facilities. There were three bidders; the architectural firm of Dore and Whittier was selected to conduct the study of the elementary facilities.

Spring/Summer 2004

A community advisory committee was formed to provide an opportunity for members of the Concord community from various stakeholder groups within the city to actively participate in the review and discussion of the district’s elementary school facilities and to provide input and feedback about potential options for the future configuration of Concord elementary schools.

The tasks for the advisory committee included:

·        Provide consultant with general information and perceptions of Concord and its schools

·        Provide consultant with information about how the current facilities have worked and are working in Concord School District.

·        Assist the consultant with plans for three public meetings between March 2004 and June 2004.

·        Identify people to be invited to the public meetings

·        Help facilitate small group work at the public meetings

·        Listen at the public hearings and synthesize what is heard

·        Hear the consultant’s potential options at points during the process

·        Provide feedback on potential options by identifying strengths and weaknesses of various options

·        Make a report to the Facilities Committee of the School Board discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the consultant’s potential options.

The advisory committee was chaired by David Snyder, the chair of the Capital Facilities Committee of the School Board. Members included a former school board member, PTO representatives, city planner, business representatives, teachers, administrators, senior citizens, students and community members.

Summer 2004, Fall 2004

The Board and Advisory Committee held two public forums and conducted an online survey for the public to weigh in on its goals and priorities for elementary schools in Concord.

Fall 2004

The Community
The Community    Advisory Committee reported its findings to the Cpital Facilities     Capital Facilities Committee of the School Board a                           and presented a number reviewed the various a                           alternatives for the future renovation 
                             or replacement of the elementary schools
                             in Concord.

Winter 2005

The administration met with parents at each of the elementary schools and at the middle school to present alternative plans for elementary facilities and gather community feedback on the various plans.

Spring 2005

City planners reviewed current and projected housing development in the city for the Joint City Council/School Board committee.

Fall 2005

The Capital Facilities Committee reviewed the findings for each of the elementary schools and met with each of the principals of the elementary schools to hear about the strengths and needs of their facilities

Winter 2005

The Capital Facilities Committee identified major principles and priorities for elementary schools of the future.

Fall 2006

The School Board met with representatives from Concord 2020 and discussed ways in which the two groups could work together.

Fall 2006

The Superintendent presented a concept paper to the Capital Facilities Committee introducing the possibility of forming four “clusters” of elementary schools in the city.

Fall 2006

The Capital Facilities Committee had an introduction to “high-performance school buildings” from representatives of the Jordan Institute.

Fall  2006

The Capital Facilities Committee held a “listening session” at Dame School to hear community reactions and suggestions about the future of our elementary schools.

Fall 2006

The administration presented a proposed plan for "four clusters" to Capital Facilities Committee.

Winter 2006

The Capital Facilities Committee recommended that the School Board continue development of the "four cluster" plan.

Winter 2006

The Concord School Board voted unanimously to continue development of the "four cluster" plan.

Spring 2007

Two community forums were held to discuss the master planning process and to get community feedback on the "four cluster" plan. There was some community concern that there had not been enough community participation in the planning process.

Summer 2007

The School Board directed the Superintendent to organize three task forces to answer the most commonly asked questions, including:

“If we build new or renovate our schools, how will our programs be enhanced? What will we get?”

“How much will the plan cost?”

“If a district building is no longer going to serve as a school, what will happen to it?”

Fall 2007

A professional group and a community task force drafted preliminary educational specifications, which were presented to the Instructional Committee of the School Board.

Winter 2008

The School Board approved the posting of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for architectural services to help Task Force II evaluate the potential costs involved in renovating or building new.

Spring 2008

The new Director of Facilities and Planning was selected and began work in the school district.

Spring 2008

Task Force II on Costs was formed and began the task of evaluating costs. The task force visited Laconia schools; heard from the Department of Education on building aid and had a presentation on energy conservation by Jordan Institute representatives. Task Force members participated in the selection process for an architectural consultant.

Summer 2008

The architectural firm Harriman Assocates was chosen to serve as architectural consultant for evaluating costs of renovating or building new on the Kimball School and Conant School sites.