Elementary Project
Updated: 10/17/2025
The planning history of our elementary schools' expansion and renovation projects is available on our Planning History page.
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Oyster River community members are invited to complete a brief survey to help us better communicate capital plan elementary projects updates.
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The ORCSD School Board last discussed the elementary schools' expansion and renovation project on October 16, 2025. Discussion starts 1:23:00 into the recording.
Access the information below in a PDF.
Previously on September 17, 2025, the ORCSD School Board, administration and NOVO Studio discussed the district’s capital planning initiatives and the progress made since the approval of warrant article # 5 seeking the appropriation of $530,922 for architectural and engineering fees for the expansion and renovations at Moharimet and Mast Way schools.
NOVO Studio and the design team have been working to define scope of work, create schematic designs, and develop construction documents to resolve the lack of space and dysfunctional program delivery at both elementary schools. Eckman, the district’s construction management (CM) partner, is reviewing construction documents with the goal of establishing a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) in October 2025.
ORCSD wishes to use district resources wisely and support the community by offering a chance to finish the project under a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) before costs further increase.
To learn more:
- Read Superintendent Shaps' communications to Oyster River families.
- Review NOVO Architects' September 17, 2025, school board presentation (document below).
- For additional details about these projects' planning history, please visit our Planning History page.
- For more information on the district's capital planning initiatives, please visit our Capital Planning page.
Investing Wisely
ORCSD’s capital plan initiative shows the district's commitment to long-term, fiscally responsible decision-making that addresses current and future needs while anticipating future growth and options for space utilization.
Delays Will be Costly
Due to ongoing inflation in labor, materials, borrowing rates, and other market disruptions like tariffs, postponing action means the increased risk of emergency fixes and further disruptions, which are often more expensive and less efficient than planned, long-term solutions.
Improving Learning Environments
Choose among the three tabs below to learn more.
Overcrowding at Moharimet and lack of adequate spaces at Mast Way mean a dysfunctional program delivery, inability to maintain quality of services, and we cannot guarantee class size or that families within a school boundary will be able to attend that school.
Students with IEPs, 504 Plans, ESOL needs, or those requiring tutoring lack proper instructional spaces. Makeshift locations like hallways and shared rooms displace program delivery and prevent these students from receiving the focused, uninterrupted support they’re entitled to.
ORCSD is unable to deliver equitable experiences at both elementary schools, which leads to inequities and programmatic incoherence. Moharimet needs additional classrooms and Mast Way's facilities are over capacity or nonexistent.
Learn about each school's projected expansion and renovation by selecting among the two options below.
To be made available in October 2025 when the scope of work and guaranteed maximum price (GMP) have been finalized.
Mast Way School
Moharimet School
