School committee backs $1.6 million feasibility study for Robinson as space-usage review finds limited spare capacity

The Westford School Committee voted unanimously Monday to recommend town authorization of $1.6 million for a feasibility study and schematic report for the Robinson School, a required first step to apply for Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) funding.

The action followed a district space‑usage update delivered to the committee that found many classroom-size differences across buildings and more rooms earmarked for special education, English‑language learning and other designated purposes than in previous analyses, reducing the number of general‑purpose classrooms available for typical class sections.

The feasibility authorization would pay owners’ project manager, architect and engineering services, and site diligence (surveys, environmental and traffic analysis) for roughly 10–12 months of study. The committee was told the MSBA currently estimates Westford’s reimbursement rate at about 48.5% of eligible costs; the $1.6 million authorization is the full town warrant figure, though not all of that is expected to be spent. The committee was also told the MSBA begins reimbursing invoices once the…