Saugus District hosts groundbreaking at Helmers
$14M project will bring new facilities, classrooms to Grandview Drive
Saugus Union School District staff held a groundbreaking event at Charles Helmers Elementary School last week, kicking off a multi-million-dollar project that will bring new facilities and classrooms to Grandview Drive campus.
Funded by Measure EE — a $148 million bond measure approved by voters on Nov. 4, 2014 — the $14 million in new construction and improvements on the campus will bring roughly 24,188 square feet in new building size to the campus.
Improvements include 12 new classrooms, a science lab and breakout room, restrooms and a new play area. A total of 23 portable classrooms will also be removed in lieu of the new space being presently built.
“We are thrilled to have construction underway at Helmers,” said Helmers Elementary Principal Michelle Velikorodnyy. “It will be a beautiful new modern space in which our 21st century learners will thrive.”
“We are thrilled to update the Helmers campus by providing permanent classroom building to replace the temporary structures that have taken up much of the campus for many years,” said Saugus district Superintendent Colleen Hawkins. “We are also excited to provide a science lab space for students and teachers to explore 21st Century learning ideas throughout the school day.”
Velikorodnyy and Hawkins were joined by other Saugus district leaders in not only praising the buildings as a step forward for the district in teaching cutting-edge ideas, but also in thanking the community for its continued support in Measure EE projects.
“The governing board is grateful to the community for its continued support of our Measure EE project,” said Saugus board President Laura Arrowsmith. “We look forward to seeing the creative ways the Helmers staff will incorporate this wonderful new space into their larger campus.”
“After feeling like the world has been stalled for two years, it is amazing to see this building moving ahead and thinking of the future joy it will bring to learning for our students,” said Katherine Cooper, a Saugus district board member.