Nov. 15—IF YOU’VE been looking for information on Phase 2 of the Manchester School District’s facilities plan, including recommendations on the future of the city’s four high schools, the wait is almost over.

Schools Superintendent Jennifer Chmiel told school members this week that an update from Symmes, Maini and McKee Associates (SMMA), the project management firm overseeing the plan, was expected later this month- this or early November.

“This update will be available for your review and feedback,” Chmiel said. “Nothing has been determined yet.”

This statement calls into question comments allegedly made recently by an unidentified school board member who allegedly contacted community members and announced the closure of West High School.

The topic was brought up this week by former Ward 9 school board member Bob Baines, who took the unidentified board member to task.

“At the West football game, at least three or four people came up to me on different occasions to mention to me that at least one board member had announced the closure of West High School,” Baines said. “It really bothers me to hear that someone would say that. Now, maybe it’s a rumor or something, but I heard it from credible sources. Also today, I heard a rumor that a certain member of the committee, without naming anyone, said something about the future of the MST Again, a very credible source.

“I just want to emphasize that we all need to be careful, regardless of what position we hold on this board, leadership or otherwise, I don’t like it when someone else predetermines how we we’ll eventually vote on something that will be submitted to this board of directors.

“I find it embarrassing when someone comes to me and tells me that a certain member of our board told them that West High School was going to close. We all need to know our place and what we should and should not not say.”

A request from school officials seeking approval to demolish Beech Street Elementary School and build a new school on land currently occupied by Sheridan-Emmett Park will go before the full board of mayor and aldermen on Nov. 19 , after members of the Lands and Buildings Board of Alderman voted last month to file the application, saying they needed more information.

The issue was scheduled to return to Lands and Buildings on Nov. 19, but Aldermen Dan O’Neil, Bill Barry and Pat Long requested that the matter be brought directly to the full board, according to an email from the city clerk Matt Norman.

The plan for the Beech Street Elementary School project includes building a new school in Sheridan-Emmett Park and demolishing the Beech Street School, with the current school space transformed into a park.

Planned site clearance, demolition and restoration work will be funded through the school district’s $306 million Priority 1 project budget.

Name of the football field

A proposal to name the Livingston Park football field after longtime Central High coach Chris LaBerge is expected to be taken up by aldermen Nov. 19, after some board members expressed concerns about the idea last month.

Ward 1 Alderman Chris Morgan proposed naming the football field where Central High School boys practice and play their junior varsity games at the Livingston Park baseball field in honor of LaBerge, who , according to Morgan, is “the winningest boys coach in Manchester Central High School history” with 24 years at the helm.

“He was the first coach to win a state championship at Central and he has deep roots in the community,” Morgan wrote in his proposal.

“The football field currently does not have a name and when referenced for a playing venue it is called ‘Livingston Park Baseball Field’, which does not give the field an identity.

“The name of the Chris LaBerge soccer field will provide immediate identity and honor an individual who dedicated a tremendous amount of time and energy to the program.”

At the October Lands and Buildings Committee meeting, no concerns were raised by fellow aldermen:

— The proposal could conflict with the naming rights granted to the Gatsas Family Foundation in recognition of its $500,000 contribution to the construction of the Central High School athletics building at the athletics complex;

— And the football field is in the outfield of a baseball diamond already named in honor of Emmanuel “Min” Valavane.

Staff at the city’s Parks and Recreation Department reviewed its records and asked the district attorney’s office and clerk’s office to do the same. Report documents and BMA minutes from 1999 confirm that the Gatsas family’s naming rights do not extend to the football field.

“Regarding the second concern, if the BMA decides to approve Alderman Morgan’s proposal, Parks & Rec will work to install signage clarifying which amenities on that land are named after whom,” said Mark Gomez, the city’s parks, recreation and cemetery chief, wrote in a memo to aldermen. “The granting of naming rights for park amenities falls within the jurisdiction of the BMA, to which Parks & Rec will defer in this matter.”

Chief of staff

That new face you may have seen around City Hall last week belongs to Daley Frenette, Mayor Jay Ruais’ new chief of staff.

Frenette succeeds Nick Pappas, who held the position during the first year of Ruais’ two-year term.

Frenette previously served as director of the state Senate Majority Caucus. He is a 2021 graduate of Saint Anselm College.

Linguistic immersion

Manchester schools are exploring the possibility of offering a French-English bilingual immersion program in one of the city’s elementary schools.

Community members are invited to respond to a survey on the subject at: https://bit.ly/3UFw3r8.

New track surface

The track at the Gatsas Complex in Livingston Park has reopened to the public after a complete surface replacement.

The track will be available throughout the winter and ready for school track and other activities in the spring. Additional painting and finishing work will be completed after the spring trail season, city officials said. …

If you want to get married on Black Friday (November 29), you’ll need to exchange your vows somewhere other than City Hall.

The City Clerk’s Office announced that due to staffing shortages, they will not be able to conduct licensing or marriage ceremonies that day. …

.

Paul Feely is the town hall reporter for the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News. Contact him at [email protected].