February 23 – March 1, 2026

At a special public forum, the Southborough School Committee presented four warrant articles scheduled for the March 2, 2026 Special Town Meeting. The committee endorsed Article 1, a $175,000 feasibility study to renovate Neary School, and Article 4, a $6,850,000 borrowing authorization to replace Neary's failing roof. Officials unanimously opposed Articles 2 and 3, which propose studying the closure of Neary and expanding Trottier and Finn schools, citing space shortages and educational disruptions. Committee members and administrators also answered resident questions on construction timelines, ADA compliance, and Town Meeting voting procedures.

• Article 1: Neary School feasibility study and facility conditions

  Schools. Watch at 4:15 Neary School building project · 16 meetings

  School officials presented Article 1 for the March 2 Special Town Meeting, which requests up to $175,000 from free cash to fund a feasibility study and schematic design for renovating Neary School. The School Committee unanimously endorsed Article 1 as its preferred option following community survey feedback from the failed project vote the previous year. Administrators presented photos and details documenting Neary's deteriorating infrastructure, including an expired 1990 roof, non-ADA compliant restrooms, and original 1968 mechanical systems.

  • Article 1 requests up to $175,000 from free cash and requires a majority vote to pass.
  • The study would evaluate a comprehensive renovation and a targeted minimum code-compliance plan with cost estimates.
  • Grade configurations would remain grades 4 and 5 at Neary in the near term.
  • Neary School opened in 1970 and retains its original electrical, plumbing, heating, and single-pane window systems.
  • The School Committee voted unanimously to recommend Article 1.

  Outcome: Article 1 heads to Special Town Meeting on March 2, 2026.

  Why it matters: Approval of the $175,000 study would provide voters with concrete architectural plans and cost estimates for renovating Neary rather than building a new facility.

• Articles 2 and 3: Trottier and Finn expansion feasibility studies

  Schools. Watch at 40:47 Trottier and Finn expansion feasibility studies

  Officials outlined Article 2 and Article 3, which propose studying alternatives that would take Neary School offline and expand the town's remaining schools. Article 2 requests up to $500,000 to study adding grade 5 at Trottier and grade 2 at Finn, while Article 3 requests up to $324,000 to evaluate expanding Finn to house grades PreK through 3. School leaders reported that moving grades out of Neary would require additions of 10,000 to 12,000 square feet at Trottier and 9,000 to 11,000 square feet at Finn to prevent severe cuts to educational programming.

  • Article 2 requests up to $500,000 from free cash for a two-phase study on additions at Trottier and Finn.
  • Article 3 requests up to $324,000 from free cash (reduced by $80,000 if Article 2 passes) to study expanding Finn for PreK through grade 3.
  • Both articles assume Neary School would no longer be used as an educational facility.
  • A summer 2025 space study concluded students cannot fit into existing buildings without additions or cuts to art, music, physical education, and support services.
  • The School Committee voted unanimously to oppose Articles 2 and 3, and the Select Board voted 4-1 against them.

  Outcome: The School Committee recommended that Special Town Meeting defeat Articles 2 and 3.

  Why it matters: Approving these articles would initiate planning to permanently close Neary School and construct substantial building additions at Trottier Middle School and Finn School.

• Article 4: Neary School roof replacement and ADA upgrades

  Schools. Watch at 58:40 Neary School roof replacement · 4 meetings

  Administrators presented Article 4, which seeks authority to borrow up to $6,850,000 to replace the failing roof at Neary School and fund potential Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades. The roof is approximately 35 years old, one-third detached from underlying insulation, and suffering water intrusion. If Article 1 passes, the $2,100,000 estimated for ADA upgrades would be rolled into the broader renovation study, reducing the roof borrowing request to $4,500,000.

  • Article 4 authorizes borrowing up to $6,850,000, including $4,500,000 for the roof and $2,100,000 for potential mandated ADA upgrades.
  • If Article 1 passes, the ADA funding will be removed, reducing the borrowing request to $4,500,000.
  • Passage requires a two-thirds vote at Special Town Meeting on March 2 and a majority vote at the town election ballot on May 12, 2026.
  • Engineering consultant SoCoTec found approximately one-third of the roof membrane is detached, creating significant risk in high winds.
  • Construction is targeted to begin July 1, 2026, with the most disruptive work scheduled during summer vacation.

  Outcome: Article 4 heads to Special Town Meeting on March 2, 2026, and to the town ballot on May 12, 2026.

  Why it matters: Replacing the roof protects the school from catastrophic water damage and emergency closure, but requires long-term town borrowing that must be approved by taxpayers at Town Meeting and the ballot box.

• Town board positions and Special Town Meeting logistics

  Town Meeting & elections. Watch at 1:30:45

  The School Committee reviewed committee recommendations across town government and shared logistical arrangements for the upcoming Special Town Meeting. The Select Board unanimously supports Articles 1 and 4 while opposing Articles 2 and 3, and the Advisory Committee supports Article 1 while opposing Articles 2 and 3. Officials also described electronic clicker voting procedures, overflow room setups, and child-friendly options in the gymnasium.

  • Special Town Meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 2, 2026, at 6:00 PM at Trottier Middle School, with check-in beginning at 5:30 PM.
  • Electronic clickers will be used for all votes to accelerate counting.
  • The gymnasium will serve as a family-friendly overflow space where dinner, blankets, and pillows are allowed.
  • The Select Board voted 5-0 to support Articles 1 and 4 and 4-1 against Articles 2 and 3.
  • The Advisory Committee recommended approval of Article 1 and opposed Articles 2 and 3, reserving its Article 4 recommendation for Town Meeting.

  Outcome: Information presented to residents ahead of the March 2 meeting.

Public comment

• A resident of Marlborough Road asked whether previous state building authority reviews had already evaluated renovation costs and asked whether Article 1 would maintain Neary as a two-grade school. 25:58
• A resident asked in the chat how students using wheelchairs currently access restrooms at Neary given the lack of ADA compliance. 40:00
• A resident asked whether the Article 1 study would examine site capacity for future building expansion and whether the town must perform all three studies if Articles 1, 2, and 3 all pass. 51:18
• A resident asked what would happen to Neary students in fall 2026 if the roof replacement article fails to pass and the building becomes unusable. 1:02:32
• A resident asked whether the summer recreation camp at Neary would be displaced during roof construction and whether roof failure poses structural safety hazards to occupants. 1:17:21
• A resident asked via chat whether unanimous support for Article 1 indicates that the overall goal of the process is simply to save Neary School. 1:35:03

Next steps and dates mentioned

• February 26, 2026, at 12:00 PM at the Public Safety Building: School Committee public informational forum on Special Town Meeting articles
• March 2, 2026, at 6:00 PM at Trottier Middle School: Special Town Meeting on school feasibility studies and Neary roof borrowing
• May 12, 2026: Annual Town Election ballot vote on Neary roof debt exclusion