The Manchester Essex Regional School District shares that the Essex Elementary School Building Project is on schedule, and remains confident that a Preferred Schematic Design option will be presented to the public in the spring.
In November 2022, consultants from Habeeb & Associates shared its needs assessment of both Essex Elementary and Manchester Essex Middle High School. The study identified that Essex Elementary, which opened in 1957, has outlived its functional life.
The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) admitted MERSD into the Eligibility Phase of its grant process in 2023. This designation means Essex Elementary is running out of options to address structural issues.
The Feasibility Study is designed to gather information about potential sites and design options, identify options for development, analyze their pros and cons, and choose a preferred option for high-level schematic design and budget estimate.
The Preliminary Design Program (PDP) document is the first progress report in this process. In the PDP, MSBA requires all districts to present options for renovation only, renovation with additions, and new construction. These options will be examined in detail by the Essex School Building Committee (ESBC) or each of the grade level configuration options outlined in the Feasibility Study Agreement.
The ESBC will be working from January through March to narrow potential options and will submit a Preferred Schematic Design (PSD) option to the MSBA for approval and further development. The overall goal is to identify an option that is both cost-effective and aligned with MERSD’s needs and educational vision.
Community Engagement
As part of its commitment to an open and transparent process, the ESBC hosts community meetings to share information and receive vital feedback that informs its decisions. Its October meeting offered an overview of the MSBA process and schedule, site analysis considerations, and enrollment and grade-span options. The Nov. 20 meeting included a building tour and an update on the PDP alternatives being developed.
Community members are encouraged to attend School Building Committee meetings, which are open to the public, either in-person or via Zoom.
These meetings assist the community in remaining informed and engaged throughout the Feasibility and Schematic Design phases. The District and Building Committee hope that residents will attend meetings, ask questions, and remain involved.
The following meetings have been scheduled (all at Essex Elementary School unless otherwise noted):
- Jan. 6, 2026 – School Building Committee meeting, 6 p.m., in-person and online
- Jan. 28, 2026 – Community meeting, building tour, 4:30 p.m.; School Building Committee meeting, 6 p.m., in-person and online
- Feb. 9, 2026 – School Building Committee meeting, 6 p.m., in-person and online
- Feb. 24, 2026 – School Building Committee meeting, 6 p.m., in-person and online
- March 10, 2026 – School Building Committee meeting, 6 p.m., in-person and online
- March 24, 2026 – School Building Committee meeting, 6 p.m., in-person and online
- April 14, 2026 – School Building Committee meeting, 6 p.m., in-person and online
- April 16, 2026 – Community meeting, building tour, 4:30 p.m.; School Building Committee meeting, 6 p.m., in-person and online
- April 28, 2026 – School Building Committee meeting, 6 p.m., in-person and online
For more information about the Essex Elementary School Building Project, or to view meeting recordings, presentations, and project documents, click here.
For a full overview of phases as part of the MSBA process, click here.
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