Millis committee hears construction phasing ahead of March 2027 groundbreaking

The Millis School Committee on June 9 heard a construction phasing update from Superintendent Molany and the chair following a public forum with Fontaine Construction that outlined a multi‑year schedule for the district's middle/high school project. "March 2027, the shovels go into the ground and construction will begin on the new middle school wing and gymnasium," Molany said, describing the start of site work and early phases.

Molany said construction of the middle‑school wing and gymnasium will continue through the 2027–28 school year so the new middle‑school space could open for use in fall 2028. The high school will move into vacated rooms in the 1966 wing while its own renovation continues through about February 2029; Molany said the district and contractor are hopeful high‑school students and staff could move into renovated spaces around March 2029 with final site work and landscaping finished by fall 2029. The chair said the phasing and timeline details presented at the public forum were "very helpful."

Committee members and Molany emphasized the schedule includes built‑in buffers, noting the contractor had discussed alternatives if phasing shifts into the 2029–30 school year. The update was provided at a public forum that Molany said had roughly 30 live viewers and is available on the district's YouTube channel.

The presentation included design updates and a proposed sequence intended to minimize disruption to students during the multi‑year project, but no formal votes or contract approvals were taken at the June 9 meeting. Next steps noted by the superintendent include continued public information (posted recordings and design materials) and ongoing coordination between Fontaine Construction and district staff as the schedule and phasing are finalized ahead of the planned March 2027 start.