Designers preview schematic plans for Blackstone‑Millville school; committee sets outreach schedule

Designers and district staff presented preliminary schematic and site plans for the Blackstone‑Millville school project, showing a campus layout that would shift athletic fields, adjust drop‑off circulation and add a fourth tennis court.

Kristen Dinardo, director of finance and operations, walked committee members through the handouts and slides distributed at the meeting. She said the plan locates bus drop‑off toward the front of the site while parent drop‑off would use a rear loop leading to a second‑floor entry. The design also reserves space near the fields for a small support building with locker rooms, restrooms and a concession area to reduce circulation between the school and athletic areas.

"These are still in the preliminary stages," Dinardo said, noting that parking in the schematic currently matches the district's existing number of spaces but that the design team is exploring options to add more parking closer to fields. The team flagged several constraints, including a stream, a culvert and a nearby cemetery that limit expansion on one side of the site.

Committee members asked about program adjacencies: administrative offices would sit near the main entrance, with the cafeteria located on the opposite wing; designers said curves in the entryway were chosen to create a more welcoming arrival experience. The plan shows the existing baseball field where the current building sits and reconfigures play fields and an all‑purpose turf area that can be used for soccer.

Members of the public and committee also raised questions about a large, historic library “rock” on campus. A student asked whether the rock would remain. Dinardo and project representatives said the boulder’s final disposition depends on grading and safety decisions; they suggested saving pieces for a display could be possible but said the rock may ultimately be removed for site safety and elevation reasons.

The committee also reviewed the outreach schedule tied to schematic design work. Dinardo said the district and design team plan community presentations at the Millville Senior Center and the Blackstone Board of Selectmen (April 28), will staff a table at the District of One event and aim to submit schematic design documents to the appropriate review authority by the end of June. The Blackstone semi‑quincentennial in July was identified as another outreach opportunity once more information is available.

The presentation was informational; no formal vote on the schematic occurred at this meeting. Committee members were encouraged to attend upcoming community events and the district website was noted as a developing repository for project updates and handouts.