The Town of Southborough Select Board spent an extended portion of its meeting on next steps for the NHERI school, hearing technical guidance from the building commissioner, demographic analysis from a board member and public comment on feasibility studies and timing.

Chair Andrew said the town is "penciled in" for a March 7 special town meeting to seek funding to cost out multiple options for addressing NHERI’s age and condition. He described the plan to present more than one option for study rather than a single project and asked for ballpark cost estimates ahead of a Dec. 8 joint meeting with the school committee, advisory and CIPC.

Mark Robidoux, the building commissioner, explained how accessibility and other code triggers are calculated and what would force broader upgrades. "If the entire renovation is greater than 30% of the full and fair cash value of the building, then the whole building has to be brought up to code," Robidoux said. He noted three threshold categories: small projects where only the work-area must be accessible, mid-size projects (over $100,000) requiring accessible public lobbies and bathrooms, and major renovations above the 30% threshold that require full building accessibility upgrades. Robidoux also flagged possible energy-code insulation and sprinkler requirements as potential cost drivers and said the exact dollar thresholds can shift with valuation updates and permit timing.

Board member Al presented demographic projections comparing town-census figures, the UMass Donahue Institute forecast and other consultant studies. He concluded there is not immediate demographic pressure to add building square footage, but he recommended more detailed demographic study and a plan to keep NHERI usable for the next four to five years.

Board members and public commenters debated whether to (a) focus on an immediate roof replacement for NHERI (which multiple board members said is urgent) and then study long-term options, or (b) include the roof request and multiple feasibility studies together at a special town meeting. Several speakers urged the town to fund feasibility work for three options the board has discussed: a full NHERI renovation as a K–2 (or 2-grade) school, an expansion at Finn, and a Trottier fifth-grade scenario (often cited as option B2 in prior committee work). The board heard public commenters ask that feasibility studies include ranges or cushions for demographic uncertainty so consultants can provide high/low scenarios.

No binding decision to fund a specific feasibility study amount was made at this meeting, but the board expressed consensus on two points: the roof needs addressing in the near term, and the town should obtain more precise feasibility and cost estimates for shortlisted options before asking town meeting to pick a long-term solution. The board agreed to continue the discussion at the Dec. 8 joint meeting with the school committee.