Middle school contract awarded Published Feb. 6, 2014 By Mark Wyatt 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Civil Engineers announced that the next step in building a new 81,000 square foot middle school here to replace the existing 1950s-era middle school has taken place, the result of a $31.6 million contract awarded in December. "Plans are for the old single level school to be torn down and a new state-of-the-art two-story school built in its place, albeit with a smaller footprint," said Erich Ledebuhr, Hanscom Middle School principal. Officials must build a temporary facility to house the nearly 250 middle school students for the two years it is expected to take to complete the project. "The first step is to build a facility for the middle school which will sit on the other side of the Shawsheen River [near the Child Development Center]," said Buckner M. Creel, Lincoln Public Schools Administrator for Business and Finance. Something Ledebuhr wanted to ensure met the educational demands for students whose experience at the middle school may only be in that temporary building considering the transitioning that military families do. "We were very thoughtful in what we would like for a temporary facility," said Ledebuhr. "For some of our students, the temporary facility may be their only experience with Hanscom Middle School." Last month funding for a new $36 million primary school was also approved. Planning includes the middle school be fully integrated with the primary school. School officials hope that when the middle school project is finished, the primary school project can begin soon after with students moving in to the temporary facility while a new primary school is built. Ledebuhr said the Department of Defense Education Activity, or DODEA, required that the middle school meet 21st Century Learning. "The setup of the building is going to be a little different, it won't be your traditional classroom-by-classroom setting, there are a lot of common and open spaces - the design of the building is built around a common indoor space in the center of the school with classrooms surrounding that." According to the 21st Century Learning website, this type of learning includes a "holistic view of 21st century teaching and learning" by combining "a discrete focus on 21st century student outcomes with innovative support systems to help students master the multi-dimensional abilities required." Students and staff will benefit from this, Ledebuhr said. "This will enhance the education we are able to provide our students," he continued. "This will have a very positive effect on our students here." Included in the new middle school are two general purpose classrooms, a gymnasium, information center, computer lab, science lab, specialist room, music and art rooms, a classroom for learning impaired students, and administrative offices. Each of which the Hanscom Middle School principal believes will increase the already tremendous amount of school spirit felt by students, parents and staff. "One of the great things of working here at this base is the amount of pride felt in our school community," Ledebuhr said. "A new school will certainly enhance that." The project also includes related infrastructure such as parking areas and playgrounds. Site improvements such as signage, fencing, paving, landscaping, exterior lighting and utilities are also expected. Officials expect the new middle school to open in September 2016. The Hanscom AFB campus consists of two schools, a primary school for students in kindergarten through third grade and a middle school for students in fourth through eighth grade. Both schools are provided and supported entirely by the federal government, and are part of the Lincoln Public School system. As plans continue, more information will be provided in upcoming articles.