Open House at Pollard: Oct 17th @ 9 AM | Click here for useful fact sheets
The Town of Needham is designing a new Pollard Middle School to meet the educational needs of our 1300+ middle school students in grades 6-8.
The Town has been accepted into the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) program, which provides significant reimbursements to towns to help reduce school building costs.Â
PROJECT GOALS:
        Address aging infrastructure in need of repair or replacement.
The existing Pollard building is over 65 years old: it does not meet modern building, energy, and fire codes and is not ADA compliant. The HVAC, electrical, security and plumbing systems need replacement, along with the roof, windows, railings, ramps, and elevators. A sprinkler system is also needed.
        Provide the space needed for middle school programming.
Both High Rock and Pollard are lacking sufficient space. Most of the classrooms are undersized, as well as common areas such as the libraries, gyms, cafeterias, and performance spaces. Neither building has adequate space for special education, school counseling, and nursing services.
        Reunite grades 6-8 on a single campus.
Relocating 6th grade to High Rock was a temporary solution to overcrowding at Pollard. A reunited school will reduce transitions between schools, expand curriculum offerings for students, and provide the opportunity to develop skills and maturity as modeled by older peers. It will also provide more opportunity for coordination and collaboration of grade 6-8 staff.
Saturday, October 17, 9:00am
School Committee Open House
Pollard Middle School (200 Harris Ave.)
School Committee
Tuesday, October 20, 6:30pm
In person at Broadmeadow Performance Center & via The Needham Channel
Special Town Meeting
Monday, October 19
Debt Exclusion Override
Tuesday, November 3
Schematic Design
Fast Facts:
Reunites 1,300+ students in grades 6-8 on one campus
New construction built in two phases
Located at the current Pollard site on Harris Avenue
Expected occupancy in fall 2030 (7th-8th grade) and winter 2031 (6th grade)
Projected cost of $325.4M with up to $80.6M reimbursement from MSBA for a net cost of $244.8M
Town Meeting vote on October 19
Town-wide debt override vote on November 3
On August 26, the MSBA Board of Directors approved the Schematic Design and Project Scope and Budget Agreement, the document that formally establishes MSBA's financial participation and reimbursement rate in the project. The MSBA has approved up to $80.6 million in reimbursement, which is almost 25% of the total project budget of $325.4 million.
The Town will now bring the project to the community for authorization through a Special Town Meeting on October 19 and a debt exclusion vote on the Town election ballot on November 3.