Hot Topic: School Building Projects
What’s happening with Pollard?
Needham has been accepted into the MSBA School Building program. Partnering with the MSBA provides the opportunity to be reimbursed for a portion of our construction costs, but also requires following the MSBA process. We are currently in the Designer Selection portion of the process, which we expect will be completed near the end of May. Once selected, we will enter the Feasibility phase. In Feasibility, the designer will help us define the educational program for the middle school program. Part of the process will involve re-considering multiple scenarios. These will likely include consideration of continuing the sixth grade stand-alone model or reuniting all middle school students on one campus, and location scenarios including refurbishment of the existing Pollard building, demolition and rebuilding on the Pollard site (would require a temporary school), and building a new middle school on a different site. These scenarios were also all considered during the School Committee’s Master Planning process, but will be updated and reconsidered as part of the MSBA’s process.
When will this be finished?
Our current timelines have the project going before Town Meeting for a vote in October of 2026, with an override vote for funding the project occurring during the November, 2026 election. This would lead to construction beginning in June of 2028, and occupancy for the fall of 2031.
Which option has the School Committee preferred?
Based on the updated (Aug 2023) Schools Master Plan, the School Committee voted on a preferred option of a combined 6-8 on the current Pollard site. This sequence was one of the fastest to completion for the most space at the least cost. This option envisions that a large addition be built behind Pollard, one class of students would move into the addition while that class’ space underwent extensive renovation. Once finished, the other Pollard class would occupy the new space, allowing for the vacated space to undergo renovation. Finally, High Rock students would move into the completed building for full occupancy, leaving High Rock available as swing space for elementary students during the renovation of Mitchell. Partnering with the MSBA allows us to look again at multiple scenarios and consider which options are preferred.
What’s the plan for Mitchell?
As we get closer to the end of the 2020’s, a plan for Mitchell will be developed, including decisions on the size and number of sections for each grade are needed, based on the demographic trends and projections at that time. Mitchell has been determined to likely require demolition and new construction. As currently envisioned, using High Rock as an elementary school swing space will allow us to consider adding it as a permanent sixth elementary school.
Why is the School Committee considering moving High Rock back to the middle school?
Over the years, we have identified programmatic challenges with having two middle schools in different locations. The vision is to reunite the three grades on one campus, while maintaining the “school within a school” feel of the sixth-grade center.
How much will this cost?
The current master plan estimates, which were updated in 2023, show an estimated cost of $314 million dollars. School building costs across the Commonwealth have risen dramatically in recent years, impacted by rising costs of construction materials, borrowing, and labor. By partnering with the MSBA (Massachusetts School Building Authority), we are eligible for the reimbursement of some of the building costs. For Sunita Williams project, our reimbursement ended up being around 18-20% of total costs.