LONGMEADOW – The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) recently chose Longmeadow High School’s (LHS) building design for its Model School program, which would be replicated in other communities in the Commonwealth.

According to information from the district, the program seeks to adapt and re-use designs of successfully and recently constructed elementary, middle and high schools.

Superintendent of Schools M. Martin O’Shea told Reminder Publications he believes the MSBA’s decision is “exciting news for the Longmeadow community.”

He added, “It really confirms that the community put together a design that is highly conducive to learning, it’s efficient, sustainable, and it’s a credit to the work of the [LHS] Building Committee led by co-chairs Bobby Barkett and Peter Greenberg.”

School Committee Chair Jessica Hutchins said she also believes the MSBA’s decision represents a great tribute to the dedication and hard work of the building committee.

“This recognition affirms that every dollar Longmeadow spent on this project was used wisely,” she noted. “Our students and staff are flourishing as a result of this new learning space and I hope other communities will have similar success with this model plan.”

She also expressed her gratitude for the work of former Superintendent Jahn Hart – who spent her entire tenure as head of the district working with the MSBA, building committee, and town to see the project to its end.

“She was pivotal in the hiring of Frank Locker [of OMR Architects]  – who worked with the architects to ensure that the facility design followed the educational vision the group collectively agreed upon,” Hutchins stated.

Barkett said he’s proud of LHS’s new designation by the MSBA as a model school.

“One of the key elements to this designation is how education is delivered within our flexible design,” he explained. “We worked hard to create a building where teachers and students flourish in a 21st century school setting.”

O’Shea said as the district’s new superintendent it’s clear to him that the project was a great team effort in the community.

“It’s obviously a vast improvement on the old Longmeadow High and yet I have very fond memories of that building and it served the community very well for a very long time,” O’Shea, who worked as a teacher at the old building, remarked.

O’Shea stated he was unsure whether other communities were investigating LHS’ designs at this time for a school building project.

“The MSBA is probably not at that stage yet, but other communities will have a chance to replicate and adapt the Longmeadow model and I look forward to seeing other communities hopefully enjoy the same success that we’ve enjoyed with this design,” he added.  

LHS was completed in partnership with the MSBA and the town was reimbursed $44 million out of $78.4 million of the project’s overall cost.

The school first opened its doors in February 2013.