The Greater Boston Academy High School slated for a move
Published on May 24th, 2000
STONEHAM, MA - The Greater Boston Academy High School in Stoneham will move in with the Edgewood Elementary School at 108 Pond St. for the 2000-2001 school year.
Both schools are private institutions run by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. By June 30 the high school of around 90 students must leave the 20 Woodland Road site where it has operated since 1965. This is by decree of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The School was affiliated with the Boston Regional Medical Center, which went bankrupt in February 1999.
The Gutierrez Company of Burlington owns the property. The company has proposed a "medical/office district" which will go before citizens for approval as an article at the June 12 Special Town Meeting. But regardless, Gutierrez spokespeople have said the company wants to use all the land; the school must go.
First year Greater Boston Academy and Edgewood Elementary School Principal Dr. Nancy Vecchione said the move to Pond Street is a temporary solution while school officials search for another location in "the greater Boston area."
"The elementary school was at half capacity so this made sense," Vecchione said. Edgewood also has around 90 students.
By adding a modular unit with two classrooms of 30 desks each, Vecchione said the Greater Boston Academy curricula will remain unchanged, except for sharing gym time.
However, two staff positions have been eliminated.
Vecchione said she could not yet estimate the cost of the eventual move to new space. For next year the average tuition will increase three percent to around $5,665 for high school students and $2,575 for elementary students.
As the 2000 school year comes to a close students prepare to celebrate the last graduation weekend at the Woodland Road site. Families of some graduates will travel from as far away as Vietnam and Brazil, others from Stoneham and Woburn.
Vecchione said she is sad to see Greater Boston move but optimistic about the future of the school.
"The main thing I have seen at this school is the stalwartness and great spiritual strength of the students, faculty and church members," Vecchione said. "The school will continue."
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