Building a new Galvin Middle School is an important component of the Canton Public Schools’ Master Plan. Among the many benefits a new GMS will bring to students and families are larger, brighter classrooms, more collaborative space for students and teachers, and recreational amenities for the entire community.
The new Galvin Middle School will be a state-of-the-art facility for grades five through eight, built with a wing for fifth and sixth-graders and a separate wing for seventh and eighth-graders. This new grade alignment will relieve overcrowding at the elementary schools while giving fifth-graders access to more robust academic offerings.
Architects for the project have designed a modern, energy-efficient building of the highest quality that will incorporate the most advanced safety features to enhance the educational experience. A new parking design will improve pick-up and drop-off for families. The Town of Canton will benefit from a new 800-seat auditorium, basketball courts with bleachers, a turf athletic field complete with lights, and a rebuilt roller rink.
Canton is working with the Massachusetts School Building Authority, which has approved our design and committed to a reimbursement grant of $72 million to offset the proposed $241 million budget.
Residents approved the project, first by attending a special Town Meeting on Nov. 18 at 7pm at the High School and voting to move the warrant to a special election on Dec. 10. The 74.2% Yes vote on Dec. 10 will give the town the debt exclusion needed to begin construction in 2026. The plan is to open the new Galvin Middle School in the fall of 2028.
FACTS ABOUT THE CURRENT GALVIN MIDDLE SCHOOL
- Built in 1971
- Modular addition in 2002
- Identified for replacement in 2017 Canton Public Schools Master Plan
- GMS has a shortage of classrooms, forcing teachers to share space
- Music classrooms are not large enough to accommodate multi-grade band, chorus and orchestra courses and rehearsals.
- The cafeteria is overcrowded and can only accommodate one class at a time
- The library is poorly located and isn’t used as a central hub of learning.
- Insufficient staff space limits their opportunity to collaborate.
Watch the video put together by Consigli showing the logistics of the construction project.
Project Timeline and Status
JULY 2029
GMS Building Project Completed (Debt Exclusion Starts)
JULY 2029
New Athletic Fields and Parking Opens
FALL 2028
The Old Galvin Middle School is Torn Down to Build Athletic Fields and Parking
SEPTEMBER 2028
The New Galvin Middle School Opens
JUNE 2025
Construction Begins on New School With Temporary Parking Lot and Access Road
DECEMBER 2024
Geo-Thermal Test Well Drilling
DECEMBER 10, 2024
Debt Exclusion Yes Vote by 74.2%
November 18, 2024
Town Meeting was held at the Canton High School and the GMS project recevied a YES vote from residents to fund the project and to have the ballot vote on December 10
AUGUST 28, 2024
The MSBA Board of Directors Approve the Project to enter into a Project Funding Agreement with the MSBA
JUNE 27, 2024
The project team files Schematic Design Submission to the MSBA
Shortcuts
MSBA WEBSITE
Click here for more information about funding and protocols of capital improvement projects in the Commonwealth’s public schools
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Click here for a reference guide to clarify context and meaning to common terms used in the building process for public projects
