Updated (8/12/24 1:52 pm): I received an email from Neary Building Committee Chair Jason Malinowski informing me that the financials I shared on Saturday morning were higher than more recent estimates. He said they will be issuing a new survey.
For more details, see my new post on the topic here.
The problem is that it seems that not all (if any) parents received an email or text to notify them about a new message in Parent Square.
And the survey purports to be asking for feedback from the entire community. Yet, no message or Flash Briefing (or even a tweet) has been issued by the Town on the topic.
The message also allows people to opt-in for emails on the subject. That’s something I did on June 21st. Yet, somehow, I never got an email about the survey.
The survey asks the community to weigh in on whether they want a new 2 grade school, new 4 grade school or an addition/renovation for a 4 grade school at Neary. (In one version of the question, respondents are asked what they would favor if costs weren’t an issue.)
They also solicit comments/questions, including on the plan for housing students during construction.
That plan isn’t laid out or linked in the survey. In fact, there are few details about the project in either the message or survey. But you can read more from my recent coverage here. You can also read the updated project website here.
The Survey is titled as though feedback is about the building project design. But, importantly, it’s really about the project budget.
Whatever version the committee selects to submit to the state for partial reimbursement, that’s the version that voters will be asked to vote up or down at a Special Town Meeting in April. There won’t be a choice on which option to pursue. And, presumably, if the vote fails, the state aid goes away.
In preparation for the vote on August 12th, the Neary Building Committee’s Finance Subcommittee was scheduled to meet yesterday to discuss all of the updated financial estimates and impacts to Town budgets for the three scenarios.
The updated detial might be helpful for people answering the survey. Unfortunately, the meeting isn’t yet posted to the Town’s YouTube Channel. But a presentation on the Finances will be made at the Monday meeting.
I do need to stress that Public Comment isn’t on the agenda until after the vote.
Some boards/committees take feedback on agenda items as they come up, but some don’t. I’m not sure what the plan is for this meeting. If you want to weigh in first, you are better off answering the survey or emailing in advance to make your opinion known than waiting until Monday in hopes you get the chance.
As for the August 6th Parent Square message, it announced:
Dear Caregivers,
The Neary Building Committee (NBC) currently has narrowed the design scenarios that it is considering to three options. The design scenarios are:
1. New Two Grade School at Neary School Site
2. New Four Grade School at Neary School Site
3. Add/Renovation – Four Grade School at Neary School SiteOn Monday, August 12, 2024, NBC will hold a meeting with the goal of narrowing the three design scenarios to one preferred design option. The District and the Owners Project Manager, Skanska, will submit a Preferred Schematic Report to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). The MSBA Board of Directors will then vote on approval of the report this fall. MSBA approval is required for the project to proceed into schematic design.
Cost estimates are still estimates and continue to fluctuate as work is performed by the design team to narrow the scope of the project that would be funded locally by the town, after state reimbursement. Cost estimates show that the new and add/renovation options are approximately the same amount, so for purposes of this survey, we’ll be surveying the concept of a two versus four-grade school.
We are seeking input from the community on their views on the cost differential between the two and four-grade school configuration, as well as a few other topics.
This survey will remain open until 12 PM on Monday, August 12.
Survey Link: Neary Building Project
The Neary Building Committee will meet at 6 PM on Monday, August 12, at the Public Safety Building Training Room to review the latest cost data and options and vote on a preferred option. A hybrid option is also available with a virtual link available here: Southborough Virtual Meeting Webpage.
If you can not join us live for the meeting but wish to submit public comment, emails can be sent to: nbc@nsboro.k12.ma.us.
If you would like to receive dedicated emails specific to this project as it proceeds, please use this link to sign up for our listserv.
We appreciate the community’s interest in this project and feedback throughout the process.
Respectfully,
Jason Malinowski, Chair, Neary Building Committee
Greg Martineau, Superintendent of Schools
