Sharon Academy Will Begin Construction of New Addition
By Martha Slater

The Sharon Academy (TSA) will begin construction in August on a new 5,400 sq. foot addition to its building, located a mile and a half west of Sharon on Route 14.

Charles Egbert, the architect for the previous two phases of school construction, designed the addition, and James Gercke, of O’Hara and Gercke, will handle the construction. The addition, which will be wood framed, New England style clapboard to closely match the existing building, will adjoin the most recent construction, forming the second leg of an "H."

According to TSA Head of School Michael Livingston, the school raised $750,000 to pay for the new addition over the last year and a half from both small and large contributions.

"The space will be used to provide much-needed room for existing classes and students," Livingston explained. "The school has no plans to increase enrollment, having reached its capacity two years ago."

The addition will include a large science lab, a dedicated art space, a library/study area, a small seminar/teaching room, and the centerpiece, a 2,000 sq. foot forum area, which will be used for multi-class instruction, lunches, all-school gatherings and community events. The forum will have a sunken area for permanent seating and will accommodate over 170 people for a variety of events.

"If all goes well," Livingston told The Herald, "we hope to move into the new space after the December break. We look forward to the addition of this much-needed space."

Livingston also told The Herald that, along with its new building addition, TSA has added two new people to its teaching staff. Christian Durgin, who will teach science and math in the middle school, is a graduate of the Upper Valley Teacher Institute. He has graduate experience in biology and chemistry, and also coaches soccer and basketball.

Patrick Morrissey, who will teach 11^th and 12^th grade English classes, is a Harvard graduate. Livingston notes that Morrissey "is a young poet and musician with great energy, a sense of humor, and a serious interest in English programs."

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