Southborough School Committee approves Neary renovation bid documents after special town meeting win

SOUTHBOROUGH — March 11, 2026 — Southborough School Committee advances Neary renovation bid and hears $365,000 smart board request at March 11 meeting. The committee unanimously approved bid documents for a $175,000 feasibility and schematic design study of Neary Elementary School, setting a March 23 site visit and an April 2 submission deadline for design firms, with all five members of a new building committee to be jointly appointed by the School Committee and Select Board — a joint meeting targeting April 2 for that process. Business Administrator Becky Doelp presented an FY27 operational budget of $26,114,718, a 3.99 percent increase over FY26, and reported an FY26 budget balance of $55,271, or 0.22 percent of budget, down roughly $88,000 from the prior month. Technology Coordinator Kathy Carmignani and Director John Carrant requested $365,000 to complete a districtwide rollout of New Line interactive panels across Finn, Woodward, Neary, and Trotier — with a live classroom demonstration by second grade teachers who piloted the boards this year — ahead of the April 11 annual town meeting vote. Facilities Director Keith also updated the committee on the Trotier Middle School roof project, with an estimated net cost to the town of $5.3 million after an MSBA grant of approximately $3.4 million at a 41.32 percent reimbursement rate, also on the April 11 warrant as Article 15.