The MSBA is the Massachusetts School Building Authority. They are a quasi-independent government authority created in 2004 to replace the former school building assistance program administered by the Department of Education (now the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education). They work with local communities to create affordable, sustainable, and energy efficient schools across Massachusetts.  

For a detailed list of MSBA Acronyms, click here

The MSBA, which has a dedicated revenue stream of one penny of the state’s 6.25-percent sales tax, is collaborating with municipalities to equitably invest in finding the right-sized, most fiscally responsible and educationally appropriate solutions to create safe, sound, and sustainable learning environments. 

The MSBA has made more than $15.4 billion in reimbursements to cities, towns, and regional school districts for school construction projects. Instead of waiting years for reimbursement, districts now receive payments from the MSBA as costs are incurred, usually within 15 days of submitting a request through the MSBA’s online Pro-Pay System.

Starting in December 2013, the Nashoba Space Needs Task Force began the process of investigating how the Nashoba Regional High School could meet the demands of 21st Century learning.  Their final report, issued in March 2016, and the accompanying NEASC report, confirmed that the building was inadequate.  As a result, the district began the process of seeking a partnership with the MSBA to further investigate options for repair, renovation, or replacement.  After being waitlisted in 2018, Nashoba was lucky to be welcomed into the grant process in 2019 and began the detailed process of conducting a feasibility study.  

A detailed timeline is shown here:

10/2012 - Science Lab Initiative Failed at Bolton Special Town Meeting (and others?)

10/2013 - Space Study Task Force Formed 

2014- NEASC Self Study Report

2015 - NEASC Accreditation Visit noted deficiencies with physical spaces

12/2015 - Statement of Interest (SOI) Submitted to MSBA

2016 - Waitlisted by MSBA

3/2018 - SOI resubmitted

11/2019 - Selected by MSBA to enter into an Eligibility Period to approve funding for a Feasibility Study  (one of 11 selected from 144 applications)

6/2020 - Bolton, Stow and Lancaster approve funding for a Feasibility Study 

2020, 2021, 2022- Building Committee selects Project Team, Preferred Design Option and submits a Schematic Design Report

8/30/2023 -  MSBA Approves Project Budget, Design and a Project Funding Agreement 

9/18/2023- Special Town Meetings held in Bolton, Stow and Lancaster to approve the borrowing authorized by the School Committee

9/23 and 9/25/2023  - Ballot Elections held in Bolton, Stow annd Lancaster to exclude the debt from Proposition 2-1/2

A Feasibility Study is a mandatory requirement by the state prior to any school construction project that is to be considered for reimbursement with state funding and study options. The School Building Committee (SBC) and its team collaborate with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to generate an initial space summary, document existing building conditions, establish design parameters, develop, and evaluate building and site alternatives, and recommend the most cost effective and educationally appropriate solution to the MSBA Board of Directors.

This is the first phase of a large school building project conducted by Kaestle Boos Associates, Inc. (KBA), the designer. The Feasibility Study involves the collection of volumes of data, including detailed evaluation of existing building and site conditions, analysis of educational programming and needs, and establishment of goals and desired outcomes of the project. 

This phase involves

·   A full site survey

·   A full building survey with collection of existing building plans

·   A hazardous materials survey

·   A traffic study

·   Evaluation of alternative sites in the district for possible high school use

·   A detailed analysis of our education program, including interviews with staff, students, administrators, and input from community members via several visioning sessions

Using the information, KBA developed multiple solutions for the School Building Committee to consider and evaluate, each with its own preliminary cost estimate, and list of pros and cons. The possible solutions fall into the categories of repair only, addition/renovation and new construction. The result of this phase is the Preliminary Design Program (PDP), which was submitted to MSBA for review and approval following a vote of the School Building Committee on June 21, 2022.  Of the possible solutions, the School Building Committee selected new construction, specifically Option 4D, as its preferred solution for its Preferred Schematic Report (PSR) which was submitted to MSBA on October 27, 2022.   On December 21, 2022, the MSBA approved the PSR which allowed the project to move to the next phase, Schematic Design.  

Preliminary Design Plan (PDP) – Submitted to MSBA on June 27, 2022. The purpose of this document is to define the programmatic, functional, spatial, and environmental requirements of the educational facility necessary to meet the district’s educational program, and perform the review and investigation required to clearly define the existing building deficiencies.

Preferred Schematic Report (PSR) – Submitted to MSBA on October 27, 2022. The purpose of this document is to finalize the Preliminary Design Program, summarize the process and conclusions of the preliminary evaluation of alternatives and substantiate and document the district’s selection and recommendation for a preferred solution.

Once the Preferred Schematic was determined and approved by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), the designer, Kaestle Boos Associates (KBA), embarked on the Schematic Design, which develops the Preferred Solution to approximately 25% of the design process. Schematic Design is a common stage gate for large building projects.  At the conclusion of Schematic Design, basic floor plans have been developed, major systems have been determined, and site work has been defined.

The Summary of Spaces is the list of rooms (spaces) and their respective sizes that will be designed (available spaces for various learning environments). The MSBA has very strict funding and building space program requirements to which the district must adhere.

Many decisions will have to be made by the School Building Committee as to what scope items to include in the base contract, what scope items to make an alternate(s), and what scope items to remove from the project completely. Toward the end of Schematic Design, two detailed cost estimates will be developed, one by the designer, KBA, and one by the Owner’s Project Manager (OPM), Skanska. Those two estimates will then be reconciled. Thereupon, the School Building Committee will review the cost estimate, make budget cuts, if necessary, and tweak the alternates. At the end of Schematic Design, the designer and the OPM will work to prepare the program, plans, and estimate, all in the format required by MSBA. This document, known as the Project Scope and Budget, will then be submitted to, and reviewed by, the MSBA.

If the MSBA agrees, the successful outcome is an executed MSBA Project Scope and Budget Agreement. Once the Project Scope and Budget is approved by MSBA, the MSBA grant funding proportion will be known, and in applying that to the estimate, the financial impact to the Nashoba member communities can be calculated. A vote to fund the district’s portion of each item will most likely occur in late 2023. The project will not move forward without MSBA and district voter approval at the end of the Schematic Design phase.

Despite being very well maintained, the current high school building is over sixty-five years old and beyond its intended lifespan. The building is heavily used by both the school and community, and just like your home, after sixty years of heavy use, things wear out. The risk of a critical system failure continues to rise. A system failure (i.e., boiler) would be disruptive to our student’s education and require the district to fully provide the funds necessary for the emergency repairs. These expenses would be costly, un-reimbursable, and unplanned. Continued high costs to maintain the outdated infrastructure in the current building. The population in our district may decline and age. The quality of a community’s schools is a deciding factor for prospective residents. With the current high school’s aging infrastructure, it will become more difficult for our high school to compete with other area towns, causing current residents to move away and prospective residents to not move in. A reduced population will cause a reduction to the towns’ tax base, leaving the remaining residents to pay a bigger share of the towns’ expenses or suffer further reduction in services – making our community even less attractive to prospective residents. 

Nashoba Regional is building a new high school because of a deteriorating and outdated facility that no longer meets today’s educational needs:

•  ● Overcrowded and undersized academic spaces

•  ● Not designed to 21st century educational standards 

• ● Undersized and lack of appropriate science lab spaces 

• ● Insufficient facilities to deliver modern applied arts programs such as video production, robotics, and theater art 

• ● Lack of small group and independent support spaces for collaboration and social emotional learning opportunities 

• ● Inadequate/inefficient/poorly distributed building systems (Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC) 

• ● Lack of modern technology infrastructure 

• ● Lack of Building Code compliance, Energy Conservation Code compliance, and Seismic Structural Code compliance 

• ● Lack of universal accessibility (building and site)

•  ● Failing building envelope including windows, walls, and roof system 

• ● Lack of natural ventilation and outdated mechanical systems 

• ● Building and infrastructure are physically coming close to end-of-life expectancy and will require multiple large-scale projects to be able to continue to function 

● The heating system has reached the end of its expected design life

 ● The boiler is severely deteriorated; it cannot be fixed and will require replacement soon

 ● The boiler is very inefficient, and our fuel costs are high 

● The thermostats and heating pipes are also failing 

● The ventilation system does not meet Building Code for minimum air exchange 

● Comfort of the building occupants is important; heating and ventilation breakdowns are very disruptive to the learning environment 

● Operationally a new HVAC system will be cost effective and environmentally balanced 

The School Building Committee with the help of the Owner’s Project Manager (OPM), Skanska, and the designer, Kaestle Boos Associates, Inc. (KBA), has been working collaboratively with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to determine the appropriate needs and size of the new school project. These decisions are based on calculations utilized and approved by the MSBA for both today’s school population and projected future needs. The School Building Committee’s goal is to balance the space needs of the educational program and the need to minimize the financial burden on the district’s taxpayers. The MSBA has very strict funding and space program requirements to which we must adhere. Many learning spaces will be designed with flexibility for future use. The final school building project will meet the needs of the community for many years to come. As part of the design process, the designers ensure the building is designed so that it can be expanded in the future if necessary 

Voters in Bolton, Stow and Lancaster will approve the project as proposed in Special Town Meetings on September 18, 2023.  Majorities of voters in each town are needed to fund the project.  Please contact your local town clerk to learn more about voting locations/hours, absentee ballots and mail-in voting.  

The warrant article that will be voted on at each Special Town Meeting is: 

"To see if the Town will approve the $241,714,926 borrowing authorized by the Nashoba Regional School District, for the purpose of paying costs of a new Nashoba Regional High School, 12 Green Road, Bolton, MA 01740 including site work and athletic fields, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto (the “Project”), which school facility shall have an anticipated useful life as an educational facility for the instruction of school children of at least 50 years, and for which the District may be eligible for a school construction grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), said amount to be expended at the direction of the Nashoba Regional School District’s Project School Building Committee. The MSBA’s grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any Project costs the District incurs in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the District and its member municipalities. Any grant that the District may receive from the MSBA for the Project shall not exceed the lesser of (1) fifty-five and 09/100 percent (55.09%) of eligible, approved Project costs, as determined by the MSBA, or (2) the total maximum grant amount determined by the MSBA. "

Ballot elections will be held in each town to authorize debt exclusions.  The ballot question will read as follows: Shall the Town of (Bolton, Stow or Lancaster) be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay (Bolton, Stow or Lancaster's) allocable share of the bond issued by the Nashoba Regional School District for the purpose of paying costs of a new Nashoba Regional High School, 12 Green Road, Bolton, MA 01740 including site work and athletic fields, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto? 

In the event that our sending communities (unanimously), or our regional school district, fail to approve funding for this proposed project within the one hundred twenty (120) day deadline as established under the Massachusetts School Building Authority's (MSBA) standard form Project Funding Agreement, then no later than ten (10) business days following the failed vote the district must submit to the MSBA a plan that presents the vote results, explains the district’s understanding of the reason(s) for the failed vote, and sets forth the district’s plan to remedy the failed vote and a suggested timeline for such a remedy. The MSBA will review the plan and determine whether it can continue to set aside MSBA funds for the proposed project. However, a failed local vote likely will result in the district being required to submit a new Statement of Interest to the MSBA and await an invitation from the MSBA to enter the Eligibility Period phase of the MSBA’s process. The process to be accepted into the MSBA grant process could take another 5+ years and require another feasibility study to be completed. 

• The estimated total project budget is $241,714,926 million, with an Estimated Maximum Facilities Grant (from the MSBA) of $$64,811,362, making the districts' share at about $176,903,564 million, as explained in detail on this page.  All costs associated with the project are subject to 963 CMR 2.16(5) .

• The Nashoba Building Project's LEED's scorecard is on page 24 of the Schematic Design report (excerpt below).  The Architect's presentation explaining how complying with the MSBA Green Schools Policy qualified us for additional reimbursement points is linked here.  More reimbursement points are still up for grabs with the use of geothermal wells for heating and cooling of the new building.  More information is posted below 

• Estimated Borrowing Impacts were presented to the school committee on August 2, 2023.   Please refer to this page for more information, which indicated that annual increases for median residential assessments could range from $1,300 to $1,750 per year depending on town of residence, annual high school enrollment, and interest rates.  Tax increases per day for median residential assessments were estimated to range from $3.15 to $4.25, ($95 to $149 per month), depending on the town of residence and interest rates.  Cities and towns may give property tax exemptions to some individuals as defined by state law. An exemption discharges a taxpayer from the legal obligation to pay all or a part of the tax assessed for the fiscal year. Exemptions are found in various clauses of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 59, Section 5 (M.G.L. c. 59, § 5). More information on available abatement programs can be found here.

• Estimates are  based on:

 ○ Total project cost

 ○ MSBA reimbursement 

○ Bonding entire project at start of construction 

○ Assumed interest rates of 4.0% to 4.5% 

○ 30 Year term (maximum) 

○ Regional Agreement using FY24 enrollment data 

• The project budget, state reimbursement, town assessments and project funding is reviewed during the June 14, 2023 public forum. The Nashoba Regional School Committee voted unanimously to incur debt for this project on August 2, 2023, and general assumptions for borrowing strategies were presented to the School Committee at that time. The towns will determine the impact on taxpayers based on the equalized evaluations of the towns and available funds to augment the burden to each town. A financing advisory group led by Superintendent Downing began meeting the day after the school committee voted to consider options for financing the project. Each town will carry about 1/3 of the total cost of roughly $178M. 

• Special Town Meetings are schedule for September 18, 2023.  

• Town elections will be held in Bolton, Lancaster and Stow on September 18, 2023 in according with  Gen. Laws c 71 § 16(d) which provides in part that the regional school district committee may vote to authorize debt and thereafter each member town will have sixty (60) days from date of said vote to disapprove any such vote to incur debt.  All 3 towns must vote in favor of incurring debt and then hold ballot elections thereafter to pass a debt override. 

• If the vote in one of the towns fails, a 2/3 vote of the regional school district committee can invoke the provisions of  Gen. Laws c 71 § 16(n) wherein a proposal to incur debt may be voted upon by all registered votes in a district-wide election.  Any such proposal in this regard passes or fails by a majority vote.

• It should be noted that G.L. Chapter 71 § 14D provides that in the absence of any specific language in a regional (school district) agreement the default process for incurring debt is Gen. Laws c 71 § 16(d).

• Acceptance into the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA)  program does not guarantee state funding. The MSBA approval process must be completed successfully for the state, via the MSBA, to provide financial assistance to the project. 

• The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) participation means the MSBA will provide grant funds for a portion of the item in question. MSBA is charged with funding school building projects, distributing limited tax dollars in the form of grants to many communities for many projects in a fair and equitable manner. To accomplish this, many project scope items are excluded from receiving grant assistance, and some indirect project costs are simply ineligible for MSBA reimbursement. 

• For instance, MSBA does not participate in building sports fields (their mission is to build schools), or in permit fees. For project items in which MSBA does not participate (provide grant funding), communities are free to fund such items at their sole cost. MSBA specifically directs that for bidding purposes, scope items in which it does participate, shall not be comingled with items in which it does not participate (the two categories can’t be mixed).  Therefore, the base bid includes the scope of the school building and items in which the MSBA participates, with limits. The other items, in which MSBA does not participate, must be bid as alternates (typically, add-on pricing for each item). The alternates are very important items for the project, could be mission critical even, but due to MSBA’s requirements, pricing for these pieces must be separate from the base bid pricing.

Reimbursement rates for Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) approved, eligible school construction and renovation projects are calculated pursuant to a formula that is established in Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 70B section 10 (M.G.L. c. 70B § 10). The statutory formula starts all districts at a base rate of 31 percentage reimbursement points. The base rate of 31 percentage reimbursement points may be adjusted based on three socioeconomic factors:

●      Community Income Factor: The district’s per capita income as a percent of statewide average per capita income. This data is provided by the Department of Revenue. Pursuant to statute, there is a sliding scale for the allocation of percentage points for this category based on community’s relationship to the statewide average.

●      Community Property Wealth Factor: The district’s per capita equalized property valuations as a percent of statewide average per capita valuations. This data is provided by the Department of Revenue. Pursuant to statute, there is a sliding scale for the allocation of percentage points for this category based on the community’s relationship to the statewide average.

●      Community Poverty Factor: Measured by the district’s proportion of low-income students, as defined by federal eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch, as a percent of the statewide average proportion of low-income students. This data is provided by the Department of Education. Pursuant to statute, there is a sliding scale for the allocation of percentage points for this category based on community’s relationship to the statewide average.

The last step in the reimbursement rate calculation process is for the MSBA, in its sole discretion, to review if a district is eligible for incentive points. Statute dictates that no district shall be eligible for more than 16 incentive points in total, and that no one category of incentive points can be more than 6 points. Incentive points are added to the base rate subject to the final “Preferred Option” selected.

●      Newly Formed Regional School District (up to 6 points)

●      High Efficiency Green School Program (up to 2 points)

●      Best Practices for Routine and Capital Maintenance (up to 2 points)

●      Overlay Zoning (MGL 40R or 40S) (up to 1 point)

●      Renovation/Re-use of Existing Facilities (up to 5 points)

●      Establishing a Maintenance Trust (up to 1 point with district match)

●      The sum of the Base Rate, plus additional points, if any, from the three socioeconomic factors, plus Incentive Points, if any, results in the MSBA’s reimbursement rate for a project. Base Rate (31 points)

+ Community Income Factor (if any)

+ Community Property Wealth Factor (if any)

+ Community Poverty Factor (if any)

+ Incentive Points (if any, is the sole discretion of MSBA)

= MSBA Reimbursement Rate

Current categories of incentive points are relevant to Nashoba Regional High School Project are:

●      High Efficiency Green School Program (up to 2 points)

●      Best Practices for Routine and Capital Maintenance (up to 2 points)

●      Incentive Points (if any, is the sole discretion of MSBA)

If the MSBA Board of Directors vote approving a Project Scope and Budget Agreement for the project the updated reimbursement rate at Project Scope and Budget will be applied to all approved eligible costs for the project.

• The cost of this project will include all costs to design, construct and furnish the new high school, demolish the old building, site work and landscaping, parking lots and roadways.

• See 963 CMR 2.00: SCHOOL BUILDING GRANT PROGRAM for a full description of categories of eligible and ineligible cost, Project Scope & Budget, and Project Funding Agreements.

• General Description

• The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) site cost allowance is for basic site development costs related to an approved project. The site cost allowance may cover a portion of site costs related to basic site work such as excavation, earthwork and site preparations, pedestrian walkways, basic site utilities, basic site drainage, basic play grounds/yards for elementary schools, fields for physical education and general student use, and basic landscaping.

• The goal of MSBA partially funding any site allowance is to fund basic, standard and common site needs for any school project pursuant to a building plan that the district and the MSBA agree upon in the Project Scope and Budget Agreement.

• Allowance

• The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) may provide a site cost allowance not to exceed 10% ten percent of the approved building construction costs, as determined by the MSBA, for basic site work subject to:

• (1) The district submitting a written site plan description accompanied by an itemized scope and budget document in detail sufficient for MSBA review of the proposed site plan and related costs, and (2) prior written agreement from the MSBA on the scope and budget for the site costs and site allowance.

• The MSBA will not reimburse for site costs that: (1) exceed 10% of the approved building costs of a project, (2) are categorically ineligible, (3) are not included within or are more than the MSBA agreed upon scope and budget document, and/or (4) are determined to be ineligible at any time by the MSBA including upon final audit pursuant to MSBA audit procedures.

• Generally Eligible Site Costs, subject to submission of detailed budget/scope and approval by MSBA:

• Costs associated with basic landscaping

• Costs associated with basic excavation and earthworks

• Costs associated with basic site utilities

• Cost associated with pedestrian walkways on the site

• Costs associated with basic play yards for elementary schools

• Costs associated with fields for physical education classes and general student use

• Potentially Ineligible Site Costs:

• The following costs may be considered as eligible for reimbursement within the 10% site cost development allowance only upon prior written agreement by the MSBA as part of a Project Scope and Budget Agreement. The MSBA shall not consider any costs relative to the following site development items as reimbursable expenses if such items exceed the 10% site development cap:

• ●      All costs associated with water/wastewater treatment and water/wastewater disposal systems including, but not limited to, septic systems, leaching facilities, treatment plants, water/wastewater lift stations, water or sewer pumping stations

• ●      All costs associated with non-hazardous site earthworks, including but not limited to, removal of rock or ledge

• ●      All costs associated with equipment for outdoor athletic facilities or outdoor athletic use

• Categorically Ineligible Site Costs:

• ●      All costs associated with synthetic turf

• ●      All costs associated with athletic stadiums, including costs associated with excavation, earthworks, and pedestrian walkways within the stadium

• ●      All costs associated with off-site traffic improvements

• ●      All costs associated with spectator amenities such as concession stands, press boxes, and/or toilet facilities for outdoor athletic facilities

• ●      All costs associated with special waste and hazardous or contaminated materials remediation, removal, and disposal

• Demolition and Building Abatement

• Pursuant to 963 CMR 2.16 (5), all costs associated with the demolition of buildings are ineligible for reimbursement, unless such costs are deemed by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), in writing prior to said demolition, to be the most cost effective and educationally sound option. In certain circumstances, the MSBA may allow for an additional itemized allowance for building demolition and/or abatement to be in addition to the 10% site allowance, as determined by the MSBA and explicitly agreed upon in the Project Scope and Budget Agreement.

• The MSBA may reimburse a community for a portion of the costs of building demolition and abatement only if: (i) the agreement is written in the Project Scope and Budget Agreement; (ii) the MSBA determines that the specific plan for building demolition and/or building abatement is necessary to complete the agreed-upon project scope; (iii) the building demolition and/or building abatement requested is not the result of a lack of routine capital investment or maintenance by the district, and (iv) the building demolition and/or building abatement is the most cost effective and educationally sound option. This policy only applies to the school facility itself and applies only to the removal of hazardous materials within a building, as defined in the Project Scope and Budget Agreement.

The School Building Committee and its team collaborated with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to established design parameters, develop and evaluate alternatives for a high school project, and engage the community for input. 

In the Preliminary Design Plan (PDP) and Preferred Solution Report (PSR) phases, various program scenarios for various school options were developed and reviewed to understand the pros and cons and cost implications to the various options.  From the PDP and PSR, it was determined that Option 4D provided balance when considering what will have the least impact on the quality of the high school experience of students attending Nashoba Regional High School during a construction project, and what will be the most cost effective and educationally appropriate solution for the district.

Option 4D is construction of a new high school northwest of the existing high school.  It was selected due to physical constraints of wetlands and the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company’s pipeline, the ability to keep the existing high school operational with the least disruption during construction, and to allow for a building footprint that supports the education program.  See above for Option 4D.  

Please note that the rendering is a conceptual drawing and not the final layout and plan.  Click here for presentation of all the options: 

Nashoba RHS Public Forum No. 4

The auditorium capacity and size is based on an equation that accommodates up to two-thirds of the agreed upon design enrollment for the student population, which for 925 students, could not exceed capacity for 616 without the district paying all the cost differentials without MSBA reimbursement 

There will be 50 lockers in each of 4 small learning community and also lockers in the gym locker rooms, wood shop, and EMT lab for students.

Based on a District survey of students, student lockers that are assigned for the school year are mostly unused, so daily use lockers for storage will be provided in each classroom area.

The total square footage is approximately 209,000 square feet. This is approximately 9,000 square feet larger than the current building, but on a more compressed footprint.

The gymnasium will be able to handle large functions, however, it is not likely that graduation will be able to be held.  During final design occupancy capacity of the gymnasium will be determined.

Per current building and energy codes, and in accordance with MSBA Sustainability Guidelines  the new building must be highly energy efficient. The project has achieved “LEED Silver Certified”.  Click here for more information on the LEED rating system:

USGBC - LEED Rating System

 The proposed building solution is being designed for 925 students at an 85% utilization rate, meaning, the school would serve 1,088 students at full capacity. This is based on the agreed upon design enrollment with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) considering current and projected enrollment figures in accordance with MSBA guidelines.  

The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) uses a 10-year model of population for the community which determined the 925-student enrollment design and takes into consideration population growth/decline, trends in school choice, and potential return of students who have previously opted out of the district.  The MSBA enrollment projection document is posted on the Nashoba Regional School District’s website.  Click here for the final enrollment letter:

Nashoba RHS Enrollment Letter_Final

The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) does not participate in construction of Central Office space, so it has been determined it will remain in its current location.

Site constraints will not allow for a model school. Additionally, model schools are not always the most cost effective or best solution for a district.  Designs can be outdated and not fully code compliant. 

The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) requires a Feasibility Study be conducted before inviting a district into the Model School Program. At a minimum, the Feasibility Study should confirm that:

a) A new facility is the most cost-effective and educationally sound solution

b) The district has developed a detailed educational plan

c) The site will accommodate one or more of the model school designs without substantial modification to the site or the design and construction

d) One or more of the Model School designs conform with the requirements of the district’s educational program, grade configurations, and enrollment without substantial modification to the design

A new school option was selected, the existing school building will be demolished. 

The project will be constructed in two phases with some intermediate milestones.  Phase 1 will be the construction of the new building and Phase 2 will be the razing of the existing building along with final site work such as a parking lot, landscaping and plantings. School will remain in full session throughout these phases. There will be some inconveniences and/or disruptions on the high school campus. These would include, traffic flow, parking, underground utilities, and athletic fields. A more detailed phasing plan will be developed during the next design phase.

One of the reasons the School Building Committee selected new construction was that new construction, in the presently planned location, would minimize student disruption during the school day. The Owner’s Project Manager (OPM), Skanska, and the designers, Kaestle Boos Associates, Inc., (KBA), will work with the general contractor to minimize disruption whenever possible.

In a new school scenario, students would remain in the existing school until the completion of the new building.  If the proposed design was for renovations or renovation/addition it is assumed that current high school uses would be relocated temporarily or suspended temporarily during construction.  Temporary arrangements typically include housing classes in modular classrooms although this would not accommodate vocational spaces.

Safety is paramount and a top priority for all individuals (students, staff, visitors, construction workers, etc.). There will be separation between school and construction operations by way of fencing, driveways, barricades and similar. Construction personnel while working on site will be required to be CORI approved (Criminal Offender Record Information). The project team will continue communication with school administration, parents, police, fire, code enforcement, and other emergency response agencies for their input.

Due to constraints of wetlands, Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company’s pipeline, and keeping the existing high school operation, the location for the new school was limited.  Currently, we know that the new building will lay on top of the baseball field, which will need to be rebuilt in its proposed new location after the construction of the new school is done and the existing school is demolished.  It is possible that other fields could be impacted by the build, however, that will not be definitive until the build is underway.

The school administration is working with the School Committee, School Building Committee, and local boards and town administrators.  Nashoba plans to continue to maintain a proactive community outreach effort as they had during the Feasibility Study, the development of the Preliminary Design Program and the Preferred Schematic Solution. 

Key steps taken or to be taken include the following:

●  The Nashoba project website to be developed and updated regularly with presentations made to the School Building Committee, School Committee, and others.

●  The results and findings of the various input meetings are compiled, presented publicly and posted on in the Nashoba Regional High School project website.

●  Public Forum presentations on the high school design will continue to be conducted, videotaped, and televised. A copy for viewing will be available on the Nashoba website.

As the Feasibility Study evolves, there will be opportunities for community input and engagement.  Information will be posted as it is developed and made available to the public.  Questions may be directed to the School Building Committee. 

Watch our School Building Committee meetings live or recorded meetings on YouTube, read the School Building Committee meeting minutes or the issued board briefs that act as a summary of the School Building Committee meeting minutes. 

Monthly School Building Committee meetings are open to the public to attend, upcoming dates can be found on the School Building Committee calendar.