By Jerry Filmore
WORCESTER, MA — Worcester Public Schools is nearing completion of a two-year project replacing all 375 original windows at Worcester East Middle School, one of several facility projects carried out across the district this summer.
The window project also included hazardous material abatement, new roller shades and replacement of exterior doors, according to Worcester Public Schools.
The district said the work was supported through the Commonwealth’s Improving Ventilation and Air Quality Grant Program using federal American Rescue Plan Act funding.
WPS says the new windows are intended to improve insulation, building security and indoor air quality at Worcester East Middle.
The first phase of the two-year project was completed during summer 2025. At that time, WPS said the 375 windows were original, inoperable or outdated and that the work would continue into summer 2026.
School officials and elected leaders marked the project’s progress during an Aug. 24 event at Worcester East Middle. Those attending included Superintendent Brian E. Allen, City Manager Eric D. Batista, U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, state Reps. Mary S. Keefe and Daniel M. Donahue, and District 3 City Councilor John A. Fresolo.
“Improving the safety and energy efficiency of our school facilities is fundamental to our commitment of providing modernized and safe facilities for students and staff,” Allen said in the district’s announcement.
The work at Worcester East is only one part of the district’s summer facilities schedule.
Accessibility work at Thorndyke Road and Lincoln Street
Thorndyke Road School and Lincoln Street School received accessibility upgrades intended to bring facilities into better compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
At Thorndyke Road School, the district also installed electrical generators to power new elevators.
The elevator work follows a broader accessibility effort that WPS previously identified as part of a multi-site program involving several school buildings. In 2025, the district reported that the Thorndyke and Lincoln elevator projects were expected to continue into summer 2026.
Repairs at Vernon Hill
Vernon Hill School received repairs to its hydroponic garden container.
The district also reported floor-tile abatement work in former third-floor cafeteria areas at the school.
Work at more than a dozen schools
Other summer projects identified by Worcester Public Schools include:
- Burncoat High School: installation of a hallway door and replacement of windows in a music room shared with Burncoat Middle School.
- City View Discovery Academy: demolition of walls.
- Clark Street Community School: asbestos insulation abatement on pipes in steam tunnels.
- Columbus Park Preparatory Academy: insulation abatement on basement pipes.
- Goddard School of Science & Technology: lead paint remediation involving peeling and damaged paint.
- Midland Street School: removal of built-in shelving in a cafeteria area and lead paint remediation.
- Mill Swan Head Start: demolition of modular structures.
- Transitions Program: preparation for new programming, demolition of built-ins and bathroom repairs.
- University Park Campus School: roof repairs.
- South High Community School: fire panel repairs.
- Worcester Dual Language Magnet School: regrading and expansion of athletic field access along with floor-tile and asbestos insulation abatement.
- Worcester Technical High School: repair of a dust collector.
The district also completed or initiated work that affects multiple schools.
WPS reported electrical upgrades and connections in 12 buildings to accommodate new kitchen equipment.
A districtwide inspection with a certified arborist identified hazardous trees and limbs near play areas, school buildings and neighboring properties. According to WPS, eight sites had been addressed when the announcement was released, while purchase orders had been issued for work at 10 additional locations.
Other districtwide work included generator servicing, boiler cleaning, masonry maintenance, painting and removal of old, expired or unused chemicals.
The district did not provide a combined cost for all of the 2026 summer projects in its Aug. 26 announcement.
At Worcester East Middle, the focus now is finishing the remaining window work as students prepare to return for the 2026-27 school year.
🔎 W.U.W. Verification Box
• Project / Topic: Worcester Public Schools summer 2026 facility improvements, including replacement of 375 windows at Worcester East Middle School.
• Current Status: WPS said the Worcester East window replacement project is nearing completion. Additional maintenance, accessibility, repair and abatement projects were carried out at schools across the district during the summer.
• Key Dates or Decisions: The first phase of the Worcester East project was completed in summer 2025. WPS officials and elected leaders marked the project’s progress during an Aug. 24, 2026 event, and the district released details of the summer work on Aug. 26.
• Estimated Cost: Worcester Public Schools did not provide a total cost for the Worcester East window project or a combined cost for all summer 2026 facility work in the source material reviewed for this article.
• Timeline: The Worcester East window replacement was planned as a two-year project spanning summers 2025 and 2026. The work is nearing completion ahead of the 2026-27 school year.
• Immediate Next Steps: WPS is completing remaining summer facility work as schools prepare for the start of the new academic year. The district also reported that purchase orders have been issued for hazardous tree or limb work at 10 additional sites.
• Primary Sources: Worcester Public Schools Aug. 26, 2026 press release on the Worcester East Middle School window replacement and summer facility projects, along with WPS information published during the first phase of the project in August 2025.
• What We Do Not Yet Know: The district has not released a combined price for the 2026 summer projects or detailed individual costs for each improvement listed in the Aug. 26 announcement.
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