Principals tell Stoughton School Committee modular classrooms would stretch cafeterias, playgrounds and specials ahead of April 8 vote

Principals and district leaders told the Stoughton School Committee on Tuesday that adding modular classrooms across elementary sites would create substantial logistical and educational disruptions, while a proposed consolidated elementary school backed by the Massachusetts School Building Authority would restore specialized spaces and relieve overcrowding.

School principals and the superintendent described how cafeterias, kitchens and outdoor areas at Wilkins, South, Gibbons, Daw (Dawe) and Hansen elementary schools would be pushed beyond current capacity if modular classrooms are placed on-site. “If we have any more students really beyond what we currently have, we simply do not have the capacity in my cafeteria,” Wilkins Principal Miss Monahan said, describing the possibility of adding a fourth lunch and moving lunch times to as early as 10:15 a.m. or as late as 2 p.m.

Why it matters: The committee is asking residents to vote April 8 on a debt-exclusion question to fund a new consolidated elementary school. District leaders said a single new school — designed for roughly 600 students with seating that supports three lunches — would allow Stoughton to reclaim classroom space now used for art, music and libraries and to restore planned specials and STEAM (STEM+arts) programming.

What principals said: In detailed remarks, principals and the district's education leaders outlined multiple impacts if modulars are installed. They told the committee modulars would likely force: - A fourth lunch shift at some schools, stretching cafeteria staff hours and food production schedules; food would need to be produced earlier and kept warm for longer periods, raising quality and custodial concerns. - Use of classrooms, stages and hallways for regular instruction and specials (art, music, library), reducing the availability of purpose-built spaces. - Loss of outdoor learning and recess areas where modular units would occupy playground or lawn space; Wilkins' principal said the school's front lawn, currently used for outdoor learning, would be unavailable if modulars were sited there. - Greater custodial and supervisory staffing needs and constraints on whole‑school community events such as concerts and family nights because of fire-code and parking limits.

Superintendent context: Superintendent Dr. Beata and district staff reiterated that the South Elementary building has been patched and maintained but faces escalating costs and code-triggering repairs. The officials told the committee the South roof, replaced previously in 1988 and 1995, along with an original 1958 boiler and extensive window replacement, put the building at the end of its useful life and made full repairs cost‑prohibitive. They said the MSBA process had taken years: the district first filed a statement of interest in 2010; the project was accepted by the MSBA only after many years of resubmission.

How a new school would change operations: District staff said the proposed consolidated school includes a large learning commons, separate art and music suites, a STEAM lab and dedicated early‑childhood playground space. Those dedicated spaces would allow other elementary buildings to reclaim rooms currently used as classrooms for specials and targeted instruction. Principals said the new design keeps noisy functions like music away from adjacent classrooms and centralizes community event space, which they said would improve year‑round programming options across the district.

Enrollment and redistricting: The committee was reminded that redistricting will proceed regardless of the April 8 vote because of rising enrollment across town. District projections cited by staff show a projected increase of about 108 students at O'Donnell Middle School over three years. Principals noted that some schools are already operating at or near capacity; Wilkins and South were singled out as having particularly narrow margins.

Budget and finance notes: District leaders and the committee emphasized the vote is a debt exclusion, not a general tax override. They also pointed to a recent Select Board resolution and town-level actions that could reallocate roughly $2 million from a high school project line to the elementary project pending Town Meeting approval. Officials urged residents to consult the town clerk for absentee and early voting deadlines and locations ahead of the April 8 ballot.

What's next: Committee members and principals urged voters to attend informational sessions held by the project team and noted a series of outreach events scheduled in late March and early April at elementary playgrounds and PTO meetings. The committee said it would continue public presentations and a Q&A schedule in the weeks before the vote.

Ending: The principals asked the committee and community to weigh the long‑term educational and operational tradeoffs: either add temporary modulars and bear recurring operational disruption or invest in a consolidated facility intended to serve Stoughton for decades.