Let's talk SHS

Let's talk SHS A community-sponsored FaceBook home for the Stevens High School renovation. Responsibility: To ensure transparency of the work of the Building Committee

To distribute information and to gather community input pertinent to the Stevens High School renovation.

All - Over 35 years ago, the fight for fair school funding began right here in Claremont. Next week on May 8, attorney A...
04/30/2025

All - Over 35 years ago, the fight for fair school funding began right here in Claremont. Next week on May 8, attorney Andru Volinsky – who led those court fights in which Claremont prevailed – is returning for a special speaking event and book signing for his new book, The Last Bake Sale, which lays out what’s still broken about how New Hampshire funds its schools – and how we can do better. Please consider joining us.

Event Details:
Thursday, May 8
6:30–8:00 PM
Claremont Savings Bank Community Center, 152 South Street
Free and open to the public

School funding affects more than schools. It touches economic development, property values, our ability to attract families and businesses, and the long-term health of communities like ours. Despite court rulings, New Hampshire’s school funding model is still out of balance – and still fails the constitutional test.

Towns like Claremont still carry some of the highest tax rates in the state, yet still struggle to meet student needs. Meanwhile, residents in wealthier towns face tax burdens tied to high property values they can't control. The issue isn’t about spending more money – it’s about fixing a system that’s not working for anyone, and is disconnected from need, fairness, and the law.

We’ll also be joined by local attorney Tom Connair, former Chair of the Claremont School Board, who helped launch the lawsuit that Claremont ultimately won.

Please join us. And help spread the word by sharing this post or inviting others who care about public education and New Hampshire’s future.

Event Link: https://facebook.com/events/s/book-signing-event-the-last-ba/945767720779238/

08/25/2014

Though the original plan was to have Stevens High School grade 9-12 students report to school for their first day on Wednesday, August 27, this has now changed.

As with many building projects, unforeseen conditions occur that require unanticipated work. This occurred with the Stevens High School renovation project work this summer.

As a result, the start of the 2014-2015 school year for Stevens High School grade 9-12 students has changed to Wednesday, September 10, 2014.

The Claremont School Board will discuss revising the previously approved 2014-2015 school calendar in the near future.

Please note: the first day of classes for Claremont Middle School remains unchanged, and is Wednesday, August 27, 2014

We had the opportunity for a quick tour of Stevens High School last week. Trumbull Nelson Project Superintendent, Bobby ...
06/25/2014

We had the opportunity for a quick tour of Stevens High School last week. Trumbull Nelson Project Superintendent, Bobby Allen, says that the renovation project is moving along on schedule. Trumbull Nelson will be significantly increasing the daily work force at the school during the summer months. At times there will be upwards of 200 workers plying their trade within the walls of Stevens, and to help ensure that quality standards are met, several additional superintendents and foremen will added to supervise different aspects of the work. Trumbull hopes to have much of the building completed by the start of school in the fall.

03/21/2014

The Eagle reports today that the Stevens High School stage will be "flattened". This refers to the "rake" of the stage - the slope from the front to rear of the stage - which angles upward, away from the audience. As part of its renovation, the rake of the stage will be made more level, adhering to current code requirements. The stage itself will be completely rebuilt. After many discussions between the architect and Theater Department staff at Stevens, as well as with input by the Stevens Alumni association and the public, it has been determined that the Stevens stage will be rebuilt from the ground up, in a manner that closely resembles the current stage, including similar facade to the one currently in place. The result will be a stage that looks very similar to the current stage, but brought up to current building and life safety codes.

Pics of Stevens Highschool Renovation process. Photo credits to Patrick O'Grady
01/29/2014

Pics of Stevens Highschool Renovation process. Photo credits to Patrick O'Grady

12/23/2013

For those who are concerned about the status of the Stevens High School stage, here's the latest activity update: The Stevens renovation committee is making attempts to save the stage. The architects are sending existing plans to Van McLeod of the NH Department of Cultural Resources who is visiting the Stevens auditorium to offer advice on January 8th. Further, a motion by the committee was approved in the amount of $6,000 to develop a design for modifications to the existing stage framing in order to meet code, as well as to study the ramifications of reusing the existing facades over a new frame of similar size. The architect also is continuing communication with NH Division of Historic Resources to research similar precedents and options, and the committee is reviewing options as they become available. The stage portion of the renovation project is on hold pending the outcome of these and other pieces of information. This information was made known to the public at the renovation committee meeting Wednesday, is also broadcast on CCTV, and is listed at the GoStevens.net website.

Interior demolition work began earlier this month at Stevens High School in the first phase of the $12.6 million renovat...
12/13/2013

Interior demolition work began earlier this month at Stevens High School in the first phase of the $12.6 million renovation. (Photo Courtesy Patrick O'Grady)

12/12/2013

The Stevens High School Renovation Committee is seeking an option to preserve the Stevens High School stage. The Committee is working with the Architects and Owners Rep to produce an alternative design that would fit within the scope of the larger renovation and that could allow the stage to be preserved, but upgraded for ADA accessibility. The Committee expects additional information for review soon.

12/09/2013

The Stevens High School Renovation Committee would like to publicly address the recent inquiries about the renovation of the Stevens High School stage. The Committee greatly appreciates the input received concerning the stage and this part of the renovation, and looks forward to further discussion in the weeks ahead. With that in mind, here is some pertinent information:

The Theatre program at Stevens has enjoyed a long history and is a valued part of the curriculum. The committee will research auditorium and stage options to the best possible end result. This process thus far includes:

Instructing the architect, Banwell Architects, and our Owners Rep, Steve Horton, to research possibilities to preserve the current stage by first appealing to the NH state Fire Marshall.

Demolition of the current stage is on hold pending review of available options and the report from the State Fire Marshall and architect.

If it is determined that the current stage can be preserved, or if a new, similar stage will be built, either option will require additional modification from what is there today for fire safety and ADA accessibility.

Regardless of the outcome, there will be a stage area in place - but important decisions must be made concerning the exact type stage, and how this important part of the project carefully fits within the framework of the entire renovation.

The Claremont School Board will be the governing body making the final decision after reviewing the report from the Renovation Committee, architects, fire Marshall and any comments from the public at subsequent school board meetings.

11/06/2013

For those interested in more detailed status of the Stevens renovation, the Claremont School Board is including in tonight's agenda a presentation concerning the project's current status, and information about final site and grounds-specific details and decisions that have arisen as part of the construction process.

06/26/2013

Big changes are coming to every floor at Stevens High School. Get the summary of floor plans in the latest VoteStevens.net blog post. Watch for construction activity to start soon.

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175 Broad St
Claremont, NH
03743

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