Duxbury committee trims FY27 capital request, approves $2.625 million to advance Alden feasibility study

The Duxbury School Committee on Wednesday amended and approved its fiscal 2027 capital request at $2,625,000, removing a $300,000 line for an illustrative math curriculum and maintaining a prioritized scope that includes a reduced feasibility study for Alden School.

School staff told the committee the Alden feasibility study was reduced from an earlier $2 million estimate to $1.75 million after benchmarking other elementary feasibility studies. Staff also explained that costs incurred under an MSBA feasibility-study agreement are reimbursable; the presentation cited a 2025 reimbursement rate of about 38.37 percent, which on a $1.75 million study would translate to roughly $671,000 in potential reimbursement.

Why it matters: The feasibility-study phase with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) is the preliminary step that determines whether a renovation or replacement project will advance and how it might be financed. Communities invited into MSBA eligibility are expected to demonstrate local commitment; having money earmarked for a study is part of that readiness.

What the committee debated: Members pressed staff on whether to keep the $300,000 capital line for an illustrative math curriculum purchase this year. Several committee members said the middle-school implementation of the district's math program should be observed for an additional year before advancing a larger curricular purchase, citing recent turnover among curriculum supervisors and the workload of existing staff. Staff said they remain committed to high-quality instructional materials and professional development but acknowledged capacity and fiscal constraints.

Motion and outcome: A committee member moved to amend the capital request by removing the $300,000 math-curriculum line and reducing the FY27 prioritized total to $2,625,000. The amendment was seconded and approved on a voice vote (the board responded "Aye"). The committee will present the amended request to the town's fiscal advisory process next week.

Details and next steps: The capital presentation listed priorities including the Alden feasibility study ($1,750,000), targeted HVAC work at Chandler School, curriculum-materials requests at the high school, a staff-laptop refresh, year 3 of a Chromebook lease and prioritized roof work. Staff said the Alden feasibility-study expenses become eligible for MSBA reimbursement after the study agreement is fully executed; the reimbursement rate is set at the time the agreement is signed and can affect the town's net cost.

Staff and committee members said they will continue discussions at the fiscal advisory meeting and at upcoming budget forums to refine priorities and consider trade-offs among capital and operating needs.