The Bromfield High School has been up and running since the early 1960s– which many claim is evident in its appearance. Bromfield is an impressive school with stellar academic programs, erudite faculty, and a close-knit community of students. However, on the physical level, we have all seen the scratched paint, felt the whiplash of temperatures from classroom to classroom, and witnessed that one kid stealthily slipping a tile into their backpack.

In July of 2022, a multi-million dollar renovation project for the Bromfield High School was introduced. The school has dabbled in tiny improvements, most recently being the bathrooms and the gymnasium. Additionally, the administration and town delegates are working to revamp the HVAC system, which has been an ongoing process for years. Repairs are set to finish over the next five years.

Joan Eliyesil, the infrastructure reporter at “The Harvard Press,” stressed the responsibility of renovating a high school. She shared, “We want to make that building last as long as possible, because we just spent all the money on the elementary school, and high schools are three to four times more expensive than elementary schools.” This efficient and cost effective makeover focuses on the importance of a one-time renovation. In order to carry out such a complex plan, there will be an overall evaluation of what might need money over the next five to ten years.

Projects include a renovated electric van for school activities, HVAC system, gymnasium, Bromfield school card access system, school department network, flooring array, and girls’ locker room. The most expensive of these are the HVAC system, the flooring, and the gymnasium. The HVAC system, which will assure that temperatures stay steady and comfortable around the building, will be $150,000. After the system is installed, there will no longer be a need for fans or window cooling units. The gray faux-wood boards, at $260,000, will replace the familiar but mismatched tiles, which will cover the entire school. These alternatives are environmentally friendly and low maintenance, as they do not require the harmful technique of stripping and waxing. As a matter of fact, this flooring has already been implemented in the art wing. Additionally, the gymnasium will have a curtain replacement, fresh paint, a refinished floor, and new basketball hoops. At $300,000, this is the most expensive ambition.

Kimberly Murphy, the Bromfield High School Principal, assures that these renovations “would not be disrupting school at all [as] it would be summertime work plus vacation work, so that’s why it would take a longer period of time.” When asked about what prompted the recent rollout of so many important updates, she offered a simple question: “Have you been across the street?” The wonderful renovations at Hildreth Elementary School have spurred a sense of determination in providing that same opportunity to high school students. Ms. Murphy kindly expressed, “Our school is older, and it needs some love and attention so that it feels as exciting and beautiful as the building across the street. You guys deserve that.”