LETTER: The Swampscott Conservancy comments on new school building selection – Wicked Local Swampscott

WednesdayOct14,2020at5:29PM

Im writing on behalf of the Swampscott Conservancy, a non-profit organization with a mission of preserving and expanding our towns natural open spaces, regarding the six options for a new school building currently being considered by the SBC.

We are aware that the towns Open Space & Recreation Plan Committee and Conservation Commission sent letters to the SBC outlining the criteria that they believe the SBC needs to consider in reviewing each option. Many of the items listed in those letters are also relevant to the concerns of the Conservancy. We therefore echo their call that the SBC ensure that the criteria they list be considered in the selection process and that the selected option is designed in such a way that each of the criteria, as appropriate to the particular site, is fully met.

While each of the school options has STEM educational opportunities, care must be taken that, if conservation land (such as Ewing Woods) is used by the school for nature study or as play space as described on the Community Priority Category of Sustainability, it is done so in a way that will ensure that the property is not only maintained essentially in a natural state and undamaged by school use but that environmental education is explicitly integrated in the curriculum to meet MA-STE.

Further, in designing a new school building, we recommend the following:

Undertaking the improvement of natural habits in adjacent conservation or other natural areas during the building process by including, for example, the eradication of invasive species and replanting native species vegetation. Such improvements should be undertaken concurrently with construction and completed within 18 months of school building completion.

The Conservancy is committed to working with the town and is available to coordinate with the SBC regarding the proposed options and implications on the natural environment of those options. Sincerely, Tonia Bandrowicz, president of Swampscott Conservancy

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LETTER: The Swampscott Conservancy comments on new school building selection - Wicked Local Swampscott