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North Reading votes to withdraw Hood School MSBA application and plan local warrant in fall
Summary
Facing higher‑than‑expected costs, the school committee voted unanimously to withdraw the Hood School MSBA application and said officials will pursue a locally funded warrant item at the fall town meeting.
The North Reading School Committee voted unanimously to withdraw the town’s application to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) for the Hood School project after administrators reported that necessary work and assessments pushed projected costs much higher than earlier estimates.
Administrators said they had evaluated options — including replacing modular classrooms — and determined that the scope and price of work made a locally managed project more practicable. The superintendent reported the district had consulted MSBA officials and been assured that withdrawing would not penalize future applications.
The committee authorized sending a formal withdrawal letter to the MSBA signed by the school‑committee chair, the town administrator and the superintendent. Members said the MSBA process had yielded valuable information and the district would leverage what it learned in planning a local article for a future town vote.
A motion to accept the withdrawal was moved, seconded and approved 4–0 by voice vote. Committee members said they plan to present detailed quotes and a town warrant for consideration at an upcoming town meeting in the fall.
