Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Construction topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
West Bridgewater committee outlines MSBA timeline, four enrollment options for new elementary school
Summary
Superintendent told the committee MSBA work is underway with a draft educational plan due by the end of October and schematic design through mid-to-late 2025; four enrollment/site options were presented, including options that would consolidate existing elementary schools and add preschool capacity.
The West Bridgewater School Committee heard a detailed update from the superintendent on planning for a new elementary school under the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) process, including enrollment scenarios, a public engagement schedule and an outline of next steps.
The superintendent said the district hosted an all-day visioning session with roughly 35 participants — educators, administrators, related-service staff and community members — and that consultants, architects and the owner's project manager are compiling information to move the project forward. "We will have a draft of our educational plan hopefully by the end of this month, the end of October," the superintendent said.
Why it matters: the MSBA process determines what projects the state will support and shapes possible building footprints, grade configurations and costs. The superintendent said the district expects to submit a preliminary design program to the MSBA in mid-December (the speaker cautioned the date might shift), followed by a preferred schematic design phase and additional schematic work stretching into late 2025.
The presentation described four enrollment/site options the district must evaluate under the MSBA-required enrollment study: (1) replace Roselle McDonald for grades 1'3, (2) a K— configuration that would move some grades between Spring Street, Howard and Roselle, (3) a grades 1'6 consolidation that would leave Spring Street as an early-childhood center, and (4) combining all three schools into one building. Enrollment estimates provided from the district's study were described as "around 150" students for some options; options that include preschool would add an estimated 75 students.
The superintendent said community forums and additional visioning workshops will be scheduled and that a new project website and FAQs will host materials for the public. The district estimated the project could go to the town in winter 2025 (the superintendent cited December 2025 or January 2026 as the window), subject to the MSBA process and design schedule.
Next steps: the district will finalize and post the draft educational plan, continue schematic work with the school building committee and hold public forums. The superintendent also said a full school building committee meeting was scheduled for the next day.
