Concord Middle School Student Highlights Role in Building Project During Statewide School Building Roundtable

CONCORD — ​Concord Middle School eighth grader Miles Sperber shared his firsthand experience helping shape a new school building during a statewide virtual roundtable hosted by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) on Thursday, Jan. 8.

Miles, who served on Concord Middle School’s Student Building Committee, was invited to speak during the MSBA’s forum, “From Concept to Completion: The School Building Process and Student Engagement,” which focused on how districts can involve students in school construction projects in meaningful, curriculum-connected ways.

Miles joined the Student Building Committee while he was in fifth grade, during the early planning stages of the Ellen Garrison Building, which opened in February 2025. At the time, Concord Middle School invited students in grades four through six to apply, asking them to explain why they wanted to participate and what they hoped to see in the new building. Students in those grades were selected because they would eventually attend the new building by the time it opened.

“I applied for the committee and filled out the form saying, ‘I wanted a library, or just generally quieter spaces,’ because I felt like there weren’t many spaces in the old building that you could work in peace,” Miles said.

Concord’s Student Building Committee was made up entirely of students and operated separately from the official Concord Middle School Building Committee. Representatives from multiple grade levels met regularly throughout the project to learn about the construction process and share feedback on building features, including learning spaces and the playground design.

“It was an amazing experience,” Miles said. “We were all new to the process, and it was exciting to see the different stages of construction and then walk into a building that included ideas we talked about years ago. I’m glad I could be a part of this process.”

During the roundtable, Miles talked about the importance of communication and transparency to help encourage broader student involvement. He noted that students are more likely to participate when they understand what a building committee does ahead of time and how their input will be used to shape the project.

“If students knew what the role involved and what the big steps were, more of them would want to get involved,” he said. “Sharing regular updates through school announcements or emails would help students feel connected to the project as it progresses.”

Miles also encouraged districts to include students from a wider range of grade levels in future projects — not just students who will be able to learn in the new building — to capture a broader range of perspectives.

Concord Middle School’s student-led committee was highlighted during the MSBA forum as one example of how districts can elevate student voices while helping students better understand the complexity and impact of school building projects.

“We are incredibly proud of the students who took part in shaping the Ellen Garrison Building at Concord Middle School,” said Principal Justin Cameron. “Each student was very thoughtful during the process and their ideas helped inform spaces that truly support how students learn and work.”

“We are grateful to Miles for representing Concord and sharing his experience at the state level,” said Superintendent Dr. Laurie Hunter. “Student voice was a meaningful part of this building project, and Miles did an excellent job explaining why that perspective matters as schools across Massachusetts plan for the future.”

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