Millis committees set schematic design schedule, plan public outreach ahead of November vote

The Town of Millis School Building Committee and the Permanent Building Committee on March 19 reviewed and endorsed a schematic-design work plan meant to keep the district on track for a town vote this fall and a required submission to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

The committee’s project managers said the team must finish schematic design and related cost estimating this summer so the district can submit its schematic design package to the MSBA by Aug. 28, with a required scope-and-budget review to follow in September and an expected MSBA board vote on Oct. 29. The town’s annual meeting is scheduled for Nov. 19, and a ballot vote would follow; both approvals would be needed to secure local funding.

Why it matters: The schematic-design phase refines floor plans, site work and major building systems and produces the budget estimate voters will see. Committee leaders framed the coming months as a compressed schedule that will require more meetings, public forums and decisions about construction delivery and sustainability targets.

Mike Quinlan, senior project manager for…