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Needham Select Board votes to place Pollard Middle School debt-exclusion on Nov. 3 ballot despite one 'no' vote
Summary
The Select Board voted to place a debt-exclusion override question for the Pollard Middle School project on the Nov. 3, 2026 state ballot; the town manager said the ballot language must be submitted to the Secretary of State by Wednesday and MSBA will set a final reimbursement rate by Aug. 26. One member opposed citing MSBA-identified deficiencies.
The Needham Select Board voted Aug. 3 to place a debt-exemption (debt-exclusion) question for the Pollard Middle School project on the Nov. 3, 2026 state ballot. The motion passed on a roll-call vote: Kathy yes, Bill yes, Josh no, Kevin yes, Chair Heidi yes.
The town manager told the board the draft ballot language had been reviewed by town counsel and MSBA and emphasized a submission deadline to the Secretary of State the following Wednesday. He also said the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) will provide the town its final maximum reimbursement rate before the MSBA board meeting on Aug. 26; MSBA approval of the project budget and scope will be conditional on securing local approvals, voter approval and required permits.
Select Board member Josh said he would vote against placing the question on the ballot because of two material deficiencies MSBA flagged in its July 27 comments: the project is short one classroom relative to MSBA core classroom standards, and the proposed media center is roughly 3,000 square feet smaller than MSBA guidance. "The MSBA considers it critical that the districts and their designers aggressively pursue design strategies to achieve compliance," he said, and added he would not support the ballot placement while those issues remained unaddressed.
Select Board members Kathy and Bill both urged putting the question before voters so residents can decide and so the project is not delayed, which they said could increase costs. Kevin made the motion to place the question on the ballot and the board approved it.
