Southborough committee backs new Neary School plan after multi-year study; town votes and state grant still required

The Neary Building Committee presented a recommendation to replace the aging Neary (NHERI) elementary school with a new two-story, four-grade school, citing failing systems, accessibility and safety gaps, and educational benefits from consolidating grades. The committee said it will propose a $108.5 million project at upcoming town votes and is estimating roughly $35 million in state reimbursement from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

The committee’s chair, Jason, summarized the project and the process that led to the recommendation and told the audience, “Costs have changed. They've come down. We've gotten our MSDA grant pretty much solidified.” He said the MSBA process and several rounds of design review and community feedback produced a final schematic the committee now recommends sending to voters.

Why it matters: Committee members repeatedly pointed to building-condition studies and an ADA review as primary drivers. The committee said NHERI’s core systems — roof, windows, electrical and HVAC — are at or beyond expected service life, asbestos has been identified in building materials, there is no fire-suppression system, and the building “failed on about every avenue possible” in a 2021 ADA compliance review. The proposed new building is designed to meet current safety standards, consolidate services and special-education programming, and preserve long-term operating efficiencies the district expects to realize after opening.

Most important facts: The schematic design shown to the public totals about 99,564 square feet and the committee is proposing a gross project price of $108.5 million. The committee’s current estimate of MSBA reimbursement is…