School committee pushes earliest grade‑configuration start to 2028–29, seeks financial analysis

The Medford School Committee voted to shift the earliest start date for a proposed grade-configuration change to the 2028–29 school year, after hearing a multi‑month update from the task force charged with studying overcrowding and middle‑school models.

Superintendent Dr. Lucy Galusi briefed the committee on the task force's work, saying the group has held three meetings since April and formed two subcommittees to examine educational models and facilities. “Their data suggested that we need nine more rooms,” Galusi said, describing capacity constraints at the Andrews and the need to evaluate cafeteria, gym and hallway use to determine feasibility. She stressed the group is “spending the time to do this the right way” and avoiding swapping one school’s overcrowding problem for another’s.

Members raised implementation and timing concerns, asking for a clearer estimate of both one‑time renovation costs and ongoing budget impacts. Several committee members expressed worry about planning and collective‑bargaining implications if a decision were rushed. After a discussion about giving the subcommittees time to complete financial and operational analyses, the committee approved a motion to set a later earliest start date for the transition (motion passed, roll call 6–0). The committee asked for an interim update in December/January and directed staff to work with finance leads to quantify potential savings or costs before any final vote.

The committee’s action changes only the earliest feasible start date; it does not itself alter any school assignments or programming. The task force will return to the committee with findings and recommended next steps between December 2026 and January 2027.