The town of Northborough, Massachusetts, is moving forward with plans for a new $98.4 million Peaslee Elementary School after the Building Committee selected a new construction option over renovation alternatives for the 1962-era pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade facility.
The decision follows years of discussion about the future of the school, including a feasibility study launched in 2024 to evaluate options for renovations and a complete replacement. The project could receive up to 48.68% reimbursement from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), along with additional funding incentives for green design measures.
Committee members said the new-build option represents the best long-term use of public funds. In addition to having a lower projected upfront cost than the two leading renovation options, estimated at $102.9 million and $103.7 million, the plan avoids the need for modular classrooms and the logistical challenges of keeping students and staff in place during a major renovation.
All options would have kept pre-kindergarten students at the Peaslee campus rather than distributing them across the district. The selected plan also avoids a grade-level reconfiguration that would have placed third through fifth grade students from across the district at Peaslee.
The committee is continuing design work with a private firm and refining construction estimates. If approved, bidding and construction are expected to begin in May 2028, with the new school scheduled to open in fall 2030.
Photo by RDNE Stock project from Pexels
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