Medfield School Building Committee

JANUARY 2026 SBC UPDATE:

For a quick update of the SBC meeting on 1/7 please watch this short video

To receive our monthly newsletter with more update information:   SBC Updates

JANUARY UPDATE

At the January meeting the SBC planned out the hiring of an OPM (Owner's Project Manager). The OPM will be in charge of helping the SBC in all aspects of the future building project.

There will be 6 members from the SBC on the OPM Hiring Subcommittee. You can view all the documents related to the MSBA on the Medfield Town website in the Medfield School Building Committee section.

We hope to finalize the OPM decision in early April. Once an OPM is in place, we begin to make the many decisions needed over the next several months to complete a future successful building project. We strongly encourage the community to stay engaged and provide as much feedback as possible!

PARK & RECREATION UPDATE

DECEMBER 2025 SBC UPDATE

View this video for a quick update of the 12/3/2025 meeting  video

To receive our monthly newsletters with more information: SBC Updates

DECEMBER UPDATE

On November fifth, several members of the SBC toured the David Mindess Elementary School in Ashland. Members had the opportunity to see the classrooms, gym, library, cafeteria, and outdoor spaces. The Ashland Superintendent, Mr. James Adams, graciously hosted the tour providing lots of information and answering questions posed by SBC members.

NEXT STEPS

WE ARE MOVING TO MODULE TWO!

At the December meeting the SBC discussed the recent meeting with the MSBA and enrollment projections for the future building project. The MSBA's final enrollment projection is 460 students. The SBC accepted the MSBA's final enrollment projection, and the required formal letter was signed by the Superintendent, Chair of the Select Board, and the School Committee Chair and returned to the MSBA. Alignment between the MSBA and the SBC on the enrollment projections was the key last step for completion of the MSBA Module One. All of the other requirements for Module One were completed in June.

On December 12th, at the MSBA board meeting, Medfield was invited to begin Module Two. Module Two starts with the hiring of an OPM (Owner's Project Manager). The OPM will be in charge of helping the SBC in all aspects of the future building project. Many decisions will need to be made during the next several months so we strongly encourage the community to stay engaged and provide as much feedback as possible!

OCTOBER 2025 SBC UPDATE: 

For a quick update of the SBC meeting on 10/6  please watch this short video

To receive our monthly newsletter with more update information:   SBC Updates

MEDFIELD DAY

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who stopped by the SBC booth.  We appreciate all the comments, questions, thoughts and ideas as we move forward with a future building project.

OCTOBER UPDATE

The MSBA recently shared their enrollment projections for the new school project. As a reminder, alignment between the MSBA and the SBC on the enrollment projections is the key last step for completion of the MSBA Module One. All of the other requirements for Module One were completed in June.

The SBC had the opportunity to review the MSBA projections in detail at the October 6th meeting, including comparing the MSBA projections to two prior enrollment projections, (one by Futurethink commissioned by the SBC, and the annual NESDEC enrollment projections). 

The MSBA projection of 445 students falls in the general range of the other projections reviewed. The SBC, after ample discussion and opportunity for public participation, decided to hold one additional meeting with the MSBA to discuss the final enrollment projection. The SBC voted to approve the MSBA's final decision pending the additional meeting.

NEXT STEPS

After the SBC accepts the MSBA's enrollment projection, a formal letter will be signed by the Superintendent, Chair of the Select Board, and the School Committee Chair. Next the MSBA will invite Medfield to a future full MSBA board meeting (hopefully in December). At that future board meeting Medfield will be formally moved to Module Two. Module Two is when the Feasibility Process begins. Module Two begins with the hiring of an OPM (Owner's Project Manager).

 NEXT MEETING December  3rd  @ 7:00 Public Safety Building

AUGUST 2025 SBC UPDATE: 

For a quick update of the SBC meeting on 6/4 please watch this short video

To receive our monthly newsletter with more update information:   SBC Updates

AUGUST UPDATE

At the August meeting the SBC discussed next steps as we wait for the MSBA to review and approve the various documents submitted in June for Module One.

The SBC will host a booth on Medfield Day- Saturday, September 27th, 10:00-4:00. Our booth will be located on North Street, across from the Adams Street exit. Please stop by with any questions, and/or thoughts as we move ahead with a future elementary school building project.

Do you have a question for the SBC? In preparation for our Medfield Day booth, the SBC is putting together a brief "Current Questions" handout. If you have a question that you would like answered please send an email to:

casey_sbc@medfield.net.

MSBA NEXT STEPS

After the MSBA reviews and accepts all of our submitted documents for Module One, the SBC will be invited to a MSBA Board meeting to begin Module Two. Module Two is when the Feasibility Process begins. Module Two begins with the hiring of an OPM (Owner's Project Manager). We will let you know as soon as we hear back from the MSBA about our status. This process of moving to Module Two may take a few months.

JUNE 2025 SBC UPDATE: 

For a quick update of the SBC meeting on 6/4 please watch this short video

To receive our monthly newsletter with more update information:   SBC Updates

JUNE UPDATE

At the JUNE meeting the SBC discussed next steps as we wait for the MSBA to review and approve the various documents submitted in May for Module One.

NEXT STEPS

After the MSBA reviews and accepts all of our submitted documents for Module One, the SBC will be invited to a MSBA Board meeting to begin Module Two. Module Two is when the Feasibility Process begins. Module Two begins with the hiring of an OPM (Owner's Project Manager). We will let you know as soon as we hear back from the MSBA about our status. This process of moving to Module Two may take a few months. *Since the SBC is currently in a holding pattern, our next meeting will be in August.

MAY 2025 SBC UPDATE: 

For a quick update of the SBC meeting on 5/7 please watch this short video

To receive our monthly newsletter with more update information:   SBC Updates

TOWN MEETING UPDATE

A HUGE THANK YOU to the Medfield Community for approving the SBC Warrant Article at Town Meeting. The SBC now has the $1.5 million to fund a Feasibility Study, which is part of Module Two in the MSBA process.

MAY UPDATE

At the MAY meeting the SBC viewed the remaining requirements for Module One in the MSBA process: the Maintenance Documents and the Educational Profile Questionnaire. We also reviewed the process and data for determining enrollment projections. Within the next two weeks we will have submitted all of the requirements for Module One!

NEXT STEPS

The MSBA will review all of our submitted documents and then we will meet with them to see if we are ready to move to Module Two. Module Two is when the Feasibility Process begins. We will let you know as soon as we hear back from the MSBA about our status.

APRIL 2025 SBC UPDATE: For a quick update of the SBC meeting on 4/2 please watch this short video.    To receive our monthly newsletter with more update information:   SBC Updates

APRIL UPDATE

At the April meeting the SBC continued to complete the administrative requirements in Module One of the MSBA process. As of April 1st, the SBC may now begin submitting the various documents to complete Module One. At the April meeting the SBC focused on reviewing the first draft of the Educational Profile Questionnaire. This document explains the district's current and proposed educational facilities, teaching methodology, grade configurations and program offerings. 

TOWN MEETING/FEASIBILITY STUDY One of the requirements in Module One is the town must successfully approve the money for a Feasibility Study. The Feasibility Study is in Module Two. At previous Town Meetings, the SBC received funds for a future Feasibility Study. We currently have 1.1 million. After discussing what Feasibility Studies are currently costing neighboring towns, the SBC decided that 1.5 million will be needed. At our annual May Town meeting there will be a Warrant Article requesting additional funds for this important next step in a future building project. We hope to see you at the Annual Town Meeting! 

(Monday, May 5th @ 7:00 P.M. @ the High School)

MARCH 2025 SBC UPDATE: 

For a quick update of the SBC meeting on 3/5 please watch this short video

To receive our monthly update please click this link:  SBC Updates

At the March meeting the SBC continued to complete the requirements in Module One of the MSBA process. There are many forms that the SBC may begin submitting starting April 1, 2025. If you want to learn more about the MSBA program, and Module One,  please click this link. https://www.massschoolbuildings.org/

TOWN MEETING/FEASIBILITY STUDY One of the requirements in Module One is the town must successfully approve the money for a Feasibility Study. The Feasibility Study is in Module Two. At previous Town Meetings, the SBC received funds for a future Feasibility Study. We currently have 1.1 million. After discussing what Feasibility Studies are currently costing neighboring towns, the SBC decided that 1.5 million will be needed. At our annual May Town meeting there will be a Warrant Article requesting additional funds for this important next step in a future building project. We hope to see you at the Annual Town Meeting! 

(Monday, May 5th @ 7:00 P.M. @ the High School)

CALLING FOR NEIGHBORHOOD CAPTAINS!

A HUGE THANK YOU to the community members who responded to our call in February for Neighborhood Captains! We are still looking for more residents in order to make sure we have all areas of the town represented. Neighborhood Captains is one avenue for how we can involve and inform the community as the building project moves forward. If you think this is a way that you could help the SBC, please send a brief email with your name and address to casey_sbc@medfield.net.

Our next meeting is Wednesday, April 2,  2025 @7:00 PM. Please join us at the Public Safety Building. All our meetings are also available by ZOOM.

FEBRUARY 2025 SBC UPDATE: 

For a quick update of the SBC meeting on 2/5 please watch this short video

At the February meeting the SBC went through some of the administrative requirements in Module One of the MSBA process. There are many forms that the SBC will need to submit starting April 1, 2025.

1. One of the first MSBA requirements is to create a School Building Committee (SBC). Medfield already created a school building committee that has been meeting  since January 2023. To comply with the MSBA's guidelines for the makeup of a school building committee, the SBC will add two additional nonvoting members: a Local Chief Executive Officer (Select Board Member), and a Local Official Responsible for Building Maintenance.

2. Enrollment Data: The SBC must present enrollment data to the MSBA. The SBC reviewed the enrollment study completed in the spring of 2024 by FutureThink. We discussed their low, moderate, and high projection numbers for the Dale Street School.  Though no decisions were made, the SBC discussed at length what number might be best for a future building project with many members expressing support for using the higher projection number of approximately 500 students.

3. One of the requirements in Module One is the town must successfully approve the money for a Feasibility Study. The Feasibility Study is in Module Two. At our annual May Town meeting  there will be a Warrant Article requesting funds for this important next step in a future building project. We hope to see you at the Annual Town Meeting!  (Monday, May 5th @ 7:00 P.M.)

If you want to learn more about the MSBA program, and Module One,  please click this link. https://www.massschoolbuildings.org/

CALLING FOR NEIGHBORHOOD CAPTAINS!

Do you want to be part of a successful future building project??? The SBC has been discussing a variety of ideas for involving and informing community members as we move forward with the Dale Street School building project.  One idea is to create Neighborhood Captains.  These individuals would help the SBC by sharing and gathering information. Though we are in the very early stages of planning, we envision a process in which the SBC members would provide support, fact sheets, links,... to the neighborhood captains who would then disseminate information. Having an informed, involved community is VITAL to creating a successful future building project! If you think this is a way that you could help the SBC, please send a brief email with your name and address to casey_sbc@medfield.net. 

Our next meeting is Wednesday, March 5,  2025 @7:00 PM. Please join us at the Public Safety Building. All our meetings are also available by ZOOM.

June 2024 SBC UPDATE:

• May Forums: The SBC discussed the data from the May forums. There were 57 community members who attended, voted on a site selection, and participated with many valuable comments and questions.  

• Results: 12 votes for EITHER site, 2 for UNSURE, 6 for WHEELOCK, 16 for DALE new build, 2 for DALE add/reno, 16 for DALE either, 3 for DALE unsure.

  • If you did not have a chance to attend the meeting, we will be launching a survey shortly so the community has another opportunity to provide input.

• There were many discussions at the forums: the timing of a feasibility study, MSBA, pros/cons of the two sites, costs, impact on students during construction, condition of Dale, etc.

• Please follow and share our SBC Facebook page- Medfield School Building Committee. If our FB page has 100 followers by our June 26th meeting, a special drawing will be held. One lucky follower will receive a surprise gift!!

May 2024 SBC UPDATE: 

• The SBC heard a presentation from FutureThink explaining their recent enrollment projection findings. The findings aligned with the previous NESDEC enrollment projections. You can read the full report on our Town website page 

• The SBC finished editing a letter to distribute with the community that gives a financial update about the possible costs associated with building a new school or doing an add/reno project. A financial update was presented to the SBC in March by the Warrant Committee co-chair Stephen Callahan. School Building Committee (03-06-2024)

• Forum Planning: The SBC discussed/planned the May forums with a focus on site options for the future building project. Please join us at one of these locations: May 15th@7:00 Dale Street School cafeteria, May 19th @ 4:00 Dale Street School cafeteria, May 29@11:00 Town House second floor, May 31st@10:30 Senior Center.

• The SBC now has a Facebook page to provide another avenue for sharing updates and important information with the Medfield community. If you have a FB page, search for the Medfield School Building Committee to get the update. 

• Click here to read the Top 10 Questions recently asked of the SBC.

Watch the May 1st  meeting here School Building Committee (05-01-2024)

Next meeting- June 5th  @7:00 Public Safety Building

April 2024 SBC UPDATE: 

• The SBC discussed creating/editing a letter to distribute with the community that gives a financial update about the possible costs associated with building a new school or doing an add/reno project. A financial update was presented to the SBC in March by the Warrant Committee co-chair Stephen Callahan. 

• MSBA Update: Five members of the SBC and the Town Administrator met with three members of the MSBA to talk about what actions Medfield can undertake to demonstrate we are making progress as a community on building a consensus for a school project. A major factor considered by the MSBA is clear evidence that a community is ready to commit to a building project. 

• The SBC discussed holding their first forum(s) on possible location(s) for the building project. The forum will be a chance for the SBC to present location information and gather feedback from community members. The forums will be in May- one on a weekday night, one on a Sunday afternoon, one late morning @ the Senior Center. Following the forums, there will be a survey to gather community feedback on a location for the future building project. 

• The SBC now has a Facebook page to provide another avenue for sharing updates and important information with the Medfield community. If you have a FB page, search for the Medfield School Building Committee to get the update. 

• Click here to read the Top 10 Questions recently asked of the SBC.

Watch the April 3rd meeting here School Building Committee (04-03-2024)

Next meeting- May 1  @7:00 Public Safety Building

March 2024 SBC  UPDATE: 

• Steve Callahan from the Warrant Committee presented an update regarding financial planning for a new school. The update focused on the role of MSBA, including the eligibility period, the steps of the program once you are accepted, the selection process/feasibility study, and then the steps once a community has voted to approve the funds. The second part of the presentation was on the impact to taxpayers.  You can hear the entire presentation by watching the recording of the March 6th SBC meeting linked below. Click here to read the meeting packet       

• The SBC discussed at length two Warrant Articles for the May 2024 Town Meeting. One article will propose that the Town begin to set aside funding out of free cash to offset the future cost of a school project (essentially beginning a “down payment” fund for the future school).  The second article would increase the funding available for the costs associated with a feasibility study as the committee continues to make progress with options to present to the town.  As a reminder, $500k has been approved to date and this would be an additional sum to support the next phase of work. 

• The SBC has started a Facebook page to provide another avenue for sharing updates and important information with the Medfield community. If you have a FB page, search for the Medfield School Building Committee to get the update. 

• Click here to read the Top 10 Questions recently asked of the SBC.

Watch the March 6th meeting here School Building Committee (03-06-2024)

Next meeting- April 3  @7:00

February 2024 SBC UPDATE: 

• Medfield received an official notice in December 2023 from the MSBA that the Dale Street School project was not accepted into the State Reimbursement Program.            The SBC is presently discussing next possible steps:    

  • Should Medfield apply for the 2024 MSBA Reimbursement program? On 2/12/2024 the SBC voted to recommend that the Select Board and School Committee submit an interest statement to the MSBA for the 2024 calendar year. 

  • Should Medfield consider undergoing a school building project without State reimbursement? The SBC is going to spend the next few months studying this option.  As part of this path the SBC will hear from the Warrant Committee chairperson on March 6th.  The public is welcome to attend and/or watch this presentation on video. 

• We received two responses to our request to submit a proposal to do a school enrollment projection analysis. After reviewing both proposals, the SBC voted to award the contract to FutureThink. The process will take approximately 6-8 weeks, and they will present their findings to the SBC at the conclusion of their study.

• Click here to read the Top 10 Questions recently asked of the SBC.

Watch the February 12th  meeting here School Building Committee 2/12/2024 

Next meeting- March 6th  @7:00

January 2024 SBC UPDATE: 

• Medfield received an official notice in December 2023 from the MSBA that the Dale Street School project was not accepted into the State Reimbursement Program.  The SBC is presently discussing next possible steps:    

  • Should Medfield apply for the 2024 MSBA Reimbursement program?

  • Should Medfield consider undergoing a school building project without State reimbursement?

• The SBC endorsed Dr. Marsden to pursue an RFP for a 3rd party to do a school enrollment projection analysis to see current trends vs previous enrollment projections.

• Click here to read the Top 10 Questions recently asked of the SBC.

Watch the January 17th meeting here School Building Committee (01-17-2024)

Next meeting- February 12th @7:00

_____________________________________________________________________

Come Tour the Dale Street School 

Click here to reserve your tour: Dale Street Tour Sign-Up

Medfield Day:  

A BIG THANK YOU to all the community members who braved the inclement weather, attended Medfield Day, and visited the SBC booth.  Your thoughtful questions and comments are greatly appreciated. The SBC plans to hold listening sessions, information sessions, and be at other community events as we move forward in the process of replacing or renovating the Dale Street School. 

In case you didn’t get a chance to stop at our booth, below are the two handouts we distributed.

• MSBA Info Sheet
• MSBC Info Sheet