Southborough School Committee approves plan for new four-grade school

The Southborough community is poised for significant changes in its educational infrastructure following the Neary School Building Committee meeting on March 31, 2025. The committee has unanimously recommended the construction of a new four-grade school on the current site of the Neary School, a decision driven by the need for modern educational facilities and the potential for substantial cost savings.

The proposal comes after extensive research and discussions dating back to 2020, when a subcommittee was formed to address the future of the Neary School. The initial recommendations included consolidating elementary schools and decommissioning Woodward School, but recent evaluations shifted the focus to closing Finn School instead. This change was influenced by funding considerations from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), which will not support the decommissioning of Woodward due to its relatively new construction.

The new school is projected to be approximately 99,564 square feet, significantly larger and more efficient than the existing Neary School, which is about 60,000 square feet. The design aims to accommodate up to 610 students, with room for future expansion if enrollment exceeds projections. The construction is expected to begin in June 2026 and take two years, during which current Neary students will temporarily attend classes at Finn and Woodward Schools.

Financially, the project is set to benefit from a substantial grant from the MSBA, which is anticipated to be confirmed in an upcoming vote on April 30. The committee has worked diligently to refine cost estimates and design plans, ensuring that the new school aligns with modern educational practices while addressing the community's needs.

This initiative not only aims to enhance the educational environment for Southborough's children but also seeks to alleviate space issues for town departments by repurposing closed school buildings. As the community prepares for this transformative project, the focus remains on delivering a facility that supports current and future generations of students.