Last month, a third vote was held on Monday, September 15, 2025, to determine whether or not a new elementary school should be built. This new school would combine the three elementary schools into one larger school. The vote did not pass.
There was a lot of debate around this proposal. While many in the town agreed that the elementary schools are in need of renovation, there were concerns about the size and cost of the project.
Superintendent Eric Tracy has been working on getting this project approved for over a year now. One of the reasons the project was rejected was concerns over a higher tax bill, which was estimated to increase by $2,000 for the average household. Additionally, people were concerned about combining the three schools. Several community members have expressed a preference for small, neighboring schools.
While the vote did not pass, the problems with the elementary schools remain. Ms. Grace Valentine, a current 4th-grade teacher at Cutler, said that one issue they deal with is not having enough electrical outlets to support the current technological needs.
Valentine went on to say, “There is no air conditioning, and windows do not allow good airflow, which results in very high classroom temperatures, especially in the beginning and end of the year, [which is] not ideal for learning.”
Valentine went on to highlight concerns over mice in the building.
There have also been ceiling leaks. Valentine adds that “because the building itself is so old, many of our systems and structures will need to be replaced sooner than later.”
The Superintendent recognizes that the schools are facing many interior problems. “The ventilation units in all buildings are at the end of their life. There are water issues, and the elementary schools are growing in population,” said Tracy.
Since the vote did not pass, the committee plans to reapply for aid in April to help address the situations at the elementary school.
However, a major concern in delaying any work is that any new proposed projects will have to take into account the rising construction prices.
This is something Ipswich is currently dealing with. In May 2018, Ipswich underwent a similar process, attempting to build a new consolidated elementary school due to the need for repairs at its existing schools. The town voted against approving this plan in 2018. Now the schools have deteriorated further, and the city is revisiting the idea of building a new school. However, because they waited several years, the plan, which was initially expected to cost around $77 million, is now projected to be more around $150-160 million for the same project.
The specific next steps for the Hamilton-Wenham elementary schools are not entirely clear, but the primary focus is to ensure that school communities have a safe learning environment.
Valentine said, “In terms of where it’s at now, I’m sure there will be a need to prioritize what kinds of things need to be replaced or fixed most urgently to decide what needs to be done first.”
Tracy echoed Valentine’s sentiments, saying, “The goal going forward is that we can meet the ultimate objective of keeping schools up to date.”
