School Committee approves educational plan for Medford High School project

You could say it was as easy as A-B-C. The new educational plan for the Medford High School project has been approved.

The Medford School Committee on Feb. 2 unanimously approved the plan without much fanfare. The body heard an extensive report about the plan on Jan. 26.

Newly appointed Superintendent Dr. Suzanne Galusi said the document was put out for comment to the public and School Committee, but there were no updates or feedback to report.

The educational plan is a requirement of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) Core Program’s Feasibility Study. Medford was welcomed into the program in December 2023 after a failed attempt in 2022.

The city has quickly moved through the eligibility period, working with the state on the “overarching goals of the project” and setting the school’s enrollment.

Initially, the MSBA assigned Medford a 1,200-student enrollment. That number has since changed to 1,395 for grades 9-12 and also includes “the centralization of Pre-K services,” Kids’ Corner, and the Medford Family Network.

LeftField Project Management and SMMA have been hired by the city as program manager and designer, respectively, for the project.

In October 2025, Medford entered what is referred to as the Feasibility Study stage, which runs through June 2026. This phase includes the preliminary design program, which will include a possible budget for the new building, and the educational plan. Both must be submitted to the MSBA by Feb. 25

The preferred schematic report has a deadline of June 25 and is expected to contain designs of what a new MHS might look like.

The educational plan is a 60-page draft report now available on the MHS project website for the community to review. It contains key enhancements to instructional practices and operations, such as “flexible and intentional use of learning spaces for students and staff,” re-locating the Curtis-Tufts to the high school campus, expanding the Library Media Center, and centralizing the Early Childhood Center.

The School Committee voted unanimously to finalize the document, with an amendment that would allow Galusi to make changes.

Anyone wishing to attend meetings of the Medford Comprehensive School Building Committee (MCSBC) can do so in person or via Zoom. The committee will meet at the high school library at 6:30 p.m. on the follow dates: Feb. 11, Feb. 23, March 5, and March 23. The meetings will include a first look at early building designs and rough cost estimates and finalizing the design submission.

The March 5 meeting will also be an opportunity for the community to give its input.