The Needham Select Board voted Nov. 25 to accept and refer proposed zoning language for the Pollard Middle School project to the Planning Board for review and public hearings, as required by state law. The referral clears the planning board to begin its public hearing and report process ahead of a future town meeting.

Select Board members reviewed recent decisions by the Permanent Public Building Committee/School Building Committee (PPBC/SBC) favoring new construction, a 6–8 grade configuration, a 750‑seat auditorium and removal of the DeFazio site from active consideration. Board members discussed two main new‑construction sequencing options presented by the PPBC: a single‑phase, four‑story build (referred to in meeting discussion as option 5D) and a two‑phase approach up to three stories (option 5E). Several board members expressed a consensus preference for the single‑phase option, citing shorter timeline, lower total cost and the advantage of keeping students out of active construction zones.

One Select Board member asked staff to formally convey the board’s support for a faster single‑phase new construction approach to the PPBC; the board agreed that minimizing cost and avoiding multi‑year phased construction that keeps students in the building during work were important priorities. Planning and design work will continue with the design team and the PPBC as the zoning referral proceeds.