By Anna Hope Emerson ’16, News Staff Writer

Completed approximately four years ago, Newark Academy’s “Master Plan” is a dynamic document that outlines the steps that Newark Academy will take to improve and upgrade its school facilities. It is split up into four parts, two of which have already been completed. The first was the construction of the new Upper School Academic Center, or the “New Wing,” completed at the start of the 2012-2013 school year. The second was the outdoor facilities: the soccer field, football field,  track, bleachers, concessions stands, and lower parking lot. The third stage, the new Middle School, is the one that Newark Academy is currently focusing on developing.

In the original Master Plan, the Middle School was to be completely gutted, refurbished, and slightly enlarged. However, the disadvantage of the original plan was that the windows of both the cafeteria and the Arts Wing would be blocked.  Additionally, it was not a cost-effective plan and the construction itself would be disruptive, as the middle schoolers would need to be moved to the other side of the building. So it was decided that the new Middle School would be behind the school, attached to the Arts Wing. However this posed a problem for the back softball field, as there was the possibility of its being destroyed. As it turns out, the current plan for the Middle School will not affect the field. The new Middle School will be a two story building, with approximately eight to ten classrooms, three labs, office space, and a new and improved Middle School Common Room. Currently, since the plan has been changed, various committees are working to get the permits for construction from the town of Livingston.

Mr. Austin, the Head of School, is in charge of the Master Plan, while working in conjunction with various committees and contributors. Mr. Goldfischer, Mr. Ashburn, the Middle School Design Committee, and the Properties Committee (of the Board of Trustees) are all key contributors in the process of designing the plan and working towards getting the Middle School built. The Board of Trustees has a policy in which 50% of the cost of a construction project must be obtained before the construction has even begun, in order to avoid long-term debt. Twenty-two million dollars is needed before construction can start on the Middle School, and currently there is $17,386,143.59 in the budget. Ms. Grider, the administrator in charge of fundraising for Newark Academy, said, “Everyone has been incredibly generous. We are so grateful for all of the families that have already made a donation, and we are continuing to go out there and ask people to support the effort.”

The fourth and final stage of the Master Plan, though in the distant future, is the construction of a new auditorium. The addition of these four elements of the Master Plan to our campus will not only benefit the students, teachers, and administration, but also the Newark Academy community as a whole.