Northborough Launches Public Forums on Peasley School Rebuild or Renovation

NORTHBOROUGH — March 12, 2026 — Northborough opens public process on Peasley Elementary rebuild with cost range spanning $40 million to $120 million. The Peasley Building Committee held its first of up to ten planned community forums March 12, presenting findings from Flansburg Architects that the 1960s-era, 45,000-square-foot building falls short of state space standards in nearly every category — a gymnasium half the required size, special education space at less than a third of the Massachusetts School Building Authority default, and no fire sprinklers or ADA-compliant plumbing. The MSBA has preliminarily approved reimbursement of 47 to 49 percent of eligible costs. Two configurations are under study: a 310-student neighborhood school requiring roughly 81,000 square feet, and a 625-student consolidated grades 3-5 building at up to 112,000 square feet — a model that superintendent's office representative Greg Martineau said could allow one of the town's remaining three elementary schools to be decommissioned. Resident Kate Crossy challenged the project team on the wide cost range, citing a recent $1,000-per-household tax increase for the fire station: "I don't want to see that happen again here." A preferred option must be submitted to the MSBA by August 26, 2026, with a locked budget expected by January 2, 2027, ahead of a projected April 2027 town meeting vote.