Southborough officials seek fresh approach to Neary School after decisive no votes

Select Board members, the Neary Building Committee and the superintendent met May 20 to discuss next steps after the Neary School (NHERI) proposal failed both the special town meeting article and the ballot question.

The Neary Building Committee chair, Jason Malinowski, told the Select Board the committee is "unanimous in looking forward and not back," and reminded the room that the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) process leaves the town a 120-day window to notify the state of its intentions. "We are still within the 120 day window granted to us by the MSBA," Malinowski said. "We are required, by next week to submit a letter, which I think should be a summary of where we land tonight."

The meeting focused on three discrete questions: whether the town should continue to consider Neary as a site at all; whether to pursue revised options at Neary within the MSBA timeline; and how to structure a renewed community process. Malinowski and other committee members said the committee’s work generated institutional knowledge the town should retain, but acknowledged public distrust and urged a different tone and broader participation going forward.

Superintendent Greg Martineau said the vote showed the project "wasn't the right time for this community," but stressed the district must still find a sustainable path for students and facilities. "I think we need to identify the problem, which I think we're fairly clear about, identify potential solutions where people can support two thirds, and then move a project forward that we all feel is in the best interest of the town," Martineau said.

Select Board members voiced similar priorities but diverged about immediate next steps. Select Board member Al Hamilton urged creation of a new, broader pre-K–8 facilities committee to test a three-school consolidation option and to include strong representation of voters who opposed the Neary plan. "My suggestion would be that we form a new group that would essentially be the pre K to 8 student housing committee," Hamilton said. "Whatever group we form, it must have significant participation by folks that voted no."

Other residents urged speedy action to address safety and instructional needs at Neary, while advocating different solutions. Several callers and in-person commenters asked that any new committee include both members of the existing Neary Building Committee and new participants from across the town, and requested clear, comparable cost estimates for alternative approaches such as repair-only work, consolidation of grades into existing buildings, or a future MSBA submission from another site.

Select Board Chair Kathy (Chair) summarized the discussion and proposed the board take time to craft the new committee charge. She said the Select Board would continue the conversation and aim to decide the committee structure and charge at its June 3 meeting. The Select Board did not commit to a new special town meeting within the MSBA window, and members said they plan to return with a clear process for townwide engagement and a set of options that can be compared on the same financial basis.

Residents and committee members repeatedly emphasized the need for clear financial modeling, shared assumptions, and expert review of any alternate options. Malinowski asked the community to "take a deep breath" and work together: "Let's start there, regardless of what side of the equation you are on."

The meeting closed with the Neary Building Committee and the Southborough K–8 School Committee briefly convening and adjourning; the Select Board said it would continue deliberations at its next regular meeting on June 3.