Millis committees unanimously endorse $125 million schematic design for middle–high school renovation

On Monday, Aug. 25, members of the Town of Millis’ Select Board, School Committee, Finance Committee and School Building Committee unanimously endorsed a schematic design and a not-to-exceed budget of $125,000,000 for a renovation and addition to the Millis middle–high school and authorized the owner's project manager to submit the schematic design report to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

The vote follows a presentation by the design team that recommended an "add/reno" approach: roughly 50 percent renovation of the existing high school and a two‑story addition housing middle‑school classrooms, linked by shared core spaces for arts, athletics, the cafeteria and library. "This option presents the best value for the citizen citizens of Millis by partnering with the MSBA and getting the state to chip in approximately 50% of the cost of the school," Richard Nichols of the school building committee said.

Why it matters: the endorsed schematic design and budget set the ceiling that will appear to voters this fall and determine the MSBA reimbursement calculation. The building committee and its owner's representative said the submission will allow the MSBA to set a final reimbursement amount; the project team expects the MSBA reimbursement to be roughly $61 million to $67 million (estimates provided in the…