Middleborough committee authorizes MSBA statement for Nichols Middle School roof as budget highlights rising special-education costs

The Middleborough School Committee voted Feb. 15 to authorize the superintendent to submit a Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) Statement of Interest (SOI) for a full roof replacement at John T. Nichols Middle School.

Superintendent Carolyn and Director Mike Peron said the Nichols roof is reaching the end of its expected life (roughly 27 years old in their account) and described the MSBA Accelerated Repair Program as a one-time opportunity that could cover a substantial portion of a full replacement. They noted the application (statement of interest) is due in March and that acceptance and funding percentages are not guaranteed; presentation remarks cited typical MSBA partial payments in the 50–60% range but emphasized that the final percentage depends on MSBA review and available funds. The administration said the town select board and town manager have been consulted and that, if the district is invited to apply for funding, a later appropriation vote by both the school committee and the select board would be required.

Director Peron and the superintendent also presented the FY26 budget. Key points in the presentation: the all-funds total was presented at roughly $53.3 million; operating budgets after offsets were stated in the packet as approximately $41.8 million; per-pupil expenditure noted near $19,600; and special-education tuition and services — a major cost driver — increased from about $2.6 million in 2023–24 to roughly $3.27 million in 2024–25 with a projected figure presented as approximately $4.74 million for FY26. The presenters discussed offsets, including circuit-breaker reimbursements (the district said it expects around $1.565 million incoming and will file for extraordinary relief), facility-rental revenue and food-service fund balance, and warned that without offsets the district would face a roughly $1–1.5 million shortfall requiring salary reductions or other difficult choices.

Committee members asked for follow-up information, including a five-year look at per-pupil expenditure trends and confirmation of MSBA timelines and likely next steps if an SOI is accepted. The committee moved and voted unanimously to authorize the superintendent to submit the SOI; administrators said they would return with further fiscal details and any required appropriation votes if MSBA advances the project.

The committee’s action authorizes district staff to pursue the MSBA step; it does not commit the town to final construction funding.