SOUTHBOROUGH – Last week, community members had a chance to tour Neary Elementary School as town leaders eye a potential project to construct a new four-grade school.
Tours were held on Nov. 12 and 16. Superintendent Greg Martineau said the tours went well.
Martineau and Neary Building Committee (MBC) Chair Jason Malinowski said that attendees asked questions around the conditions, a new facility and cost.
“Our challenge is making sure that we’re getting everyone the right information, and also having increased attendance,” said Malinowski. “We’re looking to find ways to get our message out and meet people where they’re at and want to be met on the project.”
The Community Advocate toured Neary, which was built in 1970, with Martineau. He showed doors to restrooms that were not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act; the gym which is divided into two, making it hard to run physical education programming and modular classrooms used by two classes. There’s also asbestos in the f loor and portions of the walls in the classrooms and ceilings. The kitchen is not functional, and, as a result, the food is cooked at Trottier Middle School and then brought to Neary.
During past Neary Building Committee meetings, members have said that a four-grade model would move students away from transitioning to a new school every two years.
What could be done to solve issues with Neary began with 12 options, which were then narrowed to three. In August, the Neary Building Committee voted to move forward with an option to construct a new four-grade school. At that time, the project was estimated to cost $113.4 million with Southborough’s share projected to be $83.4 million and a maximum grant through the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) eyed at $30 million.
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According to Malinowski, since the August vote, a more precise design is being worked on. NBC also met with the MSBA Board of Directors, who approved the preferred schematic report. According to Martineau, the project is now moving into the schematic design phase.
“There’s ongoing meetings with educators of how to design the space, etc., which will ultimately lead to another cost estimate,” he said.
The Sustainability Subcommittee is also studying different systems that could be put in.
MSBA’s official vote on the project is expected to come on April 30. An affirmative vote would give Southborough to go-ahead to go to Town Meeting for local approval on May 10 at Algonquin Regional High School. The project could then be on the ballot on May 13.
Malinowski said the NBC’s biggest question is what information do people need to make a decision.
In addition to the tours, committee members have gone to the Senior Center and met with elementary school-aged parents to field questions. Each of their lines of questions are slightly different, said Malinowski.
“We’re hearing a range. Some people have their mind made up one way or another. Others have really good questions,” he said. “We think we know the questions, but we don’t know. I think that’s the biggest thing — we have some time to get ahead of and study and make sure we have answers to so that people can make an informed decision.”
For more information, including a FAQ, visit https://www.nearybuilding.com/.
