Nipmuc Regional School District outlines $30M facilities improvement plan

The Mendon-Upton Regional School District held a Capital Project Informational Session on April 19, 2025, to discuss significant upcoming facility improvements across its schools. The meeting outlined three major projects: a roof replacement at Nipmuc Regional High School, a comprehensive facilities upgrade impacting all schools, and enhancements to fields and grounds at Misco Hill Middle School and Nipmuc Regional High School.

The roof project at Nipmuc is particularly urgent, as the current roof is nearing 30 years old and has been experiencing leaks. The district has been accepted into the Massachusetts School Building Authority's (MSBA) Accelerated Repair Program, which will provide a reimbursement of approximately 52.26% for the approved roof work. The total estimated cost for the roof replacement and associated HVAC upgrades is over $10 million, with the district expecting to cover around $6 million after reimbursements.

The facilities project aims to address aging infrastructure and improve security across all four schools. Key components include upgrading the building management systems, which currently operate manually and are outdated, to a more efficient wireless system. Additionally, the district plans to implement a single-point access system to enhance security and replace obsolete paging systems for emergency notifications.

The session also highlighted the need for improvements to Misco Hill Middle School, including the replacement of an aging oil-filled transformer and the installation of a generator to ensure power during outages. The district emphasized the importance of these upgrades for student safety and learning environments, particularly in light of recent assessments that identified critical needs across the facilities.

Overall, the Mendon-Upton Regional School District is seeking community support for these projects, which require approval at upcoming town meetings and ballot votes. Failure to pass these measures could result in the district losing its place in the MSBA funding pipeline, leaving essential repairs unaddressed. The district has been planning these improvements for nearly a decade, reflecting a commitment to maintaining and enhancing the educational environment for its students.