Advisory committee tables demand-letter plans as members seek clearer dollar figures from state and Phillipston

The Templeton Advisory Committee unanimously agreed to table action on a proposed demand letter to the town of Phillipston and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education seeking financial contributions related to Phillipston students attending Templeton Elementary School.

Noel Francis outlined competing calculation approaches discussed in drafts: (1) seeking Phillipston's share of bonded debt and bus-transport costs (a narrow calculation that the committee estimated could be roughly $100,000 per year for bonded debt plus about $90,000 for transportation) and (2) a per-pupil approach using a per-pupil cost (committee members used an illustrative $10,000-per-pupil figure, which, multiplied by a reported ~50 Phillipston pupils, would yield a much larger annual figure). Francis stressed that blanks in the draft letters reflected uncertainty in exact dollar amounts and that the advisory committee should sharpen the figures before forwarding the draft to the select board.

Committee members described rising enrollment pressures at Templeton Elementary from new local housing developments and ongoing construction in Phillipston, saying the town faces a potential increase of roughly 200 students over coming years. Members agreed the next steps are to produce clearer, evidence-based drafts with specific dollar figures and legal direction for the select board and town counsel to consider. The committee voted to table the matter to the next advisory meeting and asked two members to prepare consolidated drafts and supporting data for review.