Newton proposes a solar canopy at Countryside Elementary
Newton is seeking approval to negotiate a 25-year agreement for a solar canopy at Countryside Elementary School, with construction targeted for summer 2027.
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Friday, November 13, 2026
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Latest Massachusetts stories
Alden School rebuild moves to its design study
Town voters funded a $1,750,000 feasibility study for Alden School at the March 14, 2026 town meeting, and the district spent the summer choosing a manager for the project. Eight firms bid, three were interviewed, and the district sent its choice to the state building authority on September 9, 2026 for a decision on October 5.
Educational Model report narrows Dedham's school-facility choices
The Rennie Center evaluated ten grade-configuration and facilities scenarios and recommended advancing three options that would move elementary students into better buildings while balancing time and cost.
Building committee discloses $172M maintenance baseline as HS/MS project heads to fall Town Meeting vote
At the August 4 retreat, the Committee reviewed a Module 1 decision presentation showing a $172 million baseline cost to bring the existing high school/middle school buildings up to code without changing their physical configuration (excluding pool, field house, and grounds garage). The Committee discussed pursuing a feasibility-study funding request at a fall Special Town Meeting, noting that a 'yes' vote only funds the study (roughly 33% MSBA-reimbursable), not construction, and that failure to secure funding would remove the district from the MSBA program and forfeit reimbursement eligibility.
Building committee selected a preferred design for the new high school
The district reported that the building committee selected design C2.2A as the singular preferred schematic and submitted it to the MSBA on June 25.
District announces intent to execute Ameresco performance contract
The August 3 agenda announced the district’s intent to execute an energy performance contract with Ameresco under Massachusetts procurement law.
North Middlesex Regional School District
Committee accepted a new high-school fitness court
The committee accepted fitness equipment from Townsend and approved an agreement for student use plus community access outside school hours.
MSBA advances a new grades 4-6 Parker Middle School
After Chelmsford selected a new grades 4-6 school on the existing Parker site, the Massachusetts School Building Authority approved the project to move into schematic design and formal cost estimating.
Lowell Community Charter Public School
School finances $35.98 million athletic and community center project
LCCPS secured a $35.98 million tax-exempt bond offering for its Athletic & Community Center and debt refinancing, with groundbreaking planned for summer 2026 and completion projected for November 2027.
More from the news desk
District moves to combine Ashley and Swift Elementary into one school by 2030
New Bedford is working with the state's MSBA to combine Ashley and Swift Elementary into a single building serving 665 K-5 students plus six pre-K classrooms. Two options are on the table: adding onto and renovating the current Ashley building, or building new on the same site. The district submits its preferred option to the state August 24, 2026, with a state decision expected October 28, 2026, and students moving in by 2030.
Committee was set to consider a $136,954 modular-classroom relocation study
The July 23 agenda proposed spending $136,953.51 to study moving Elmwood's two-story modular classrooms to Hopkins and developing a Fall Town Meeting funding request using uncommitted Charleswood funds.
Hood School modular project returned to the agenda
The July 20 agenda listed a J. Turner Hood School modular project after several earlier building and outdoor-space updates.
Air conditioning approved for older schools, paid first from school funds
At its July 20 retreat the committee voted 8-0 (mayor abstaining) to let the city install air-conditioning upgrades in older schools, including Bigelow, Bowen, Brown, Burr, Mason-Rice, Memorial-Spaulding, Peirce, Underwood, Ward and Williams. School maintenance money pays first, and the mayor will ask the City Council to repay it.
Teen health center proposed for the future high school
The July 20 agenda scheduled discussion of a teen health center at Medford High, including benefits, operating plans, costs, partnerships, and space guidance for the building committee.
District floats building a new elementary school
At a July 15, 2026 workshop, facilities staff presented the committee with early options for replacing rather than repairing two elementary buildings. One scenario would close Hyannis West Elementary and Barnstable Community Innovation School and combine them into one new K-3 building; a second would replace Centerville Elementary. Slides estimate repairing Hyannis West and the Innovation School at $22 million against $87.2 million for a new combined building without state help, or $43.6 million if the state pays its usual share. No vote was taken.
Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School
Banneker Charter School Officially Relocates to New Campus
Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School has officially completed its move to a new campus located at 1 Matignon Rd., Cambridge, MA, as announced on July 6, 2026. This follows earlier announcements (January 2026) that the school would open the school year at this new location.
Campbell project moves to MSBA extension and possible special-election warrant
The School Committee scheduled possible votes to seek an extension of the MSBA grant offer and submit a November 2026 Town Meeting warrant for a special election, contingent on the extension.
Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School
Board authorizes $193,000 eighth-grade wing renovation
The Board accepted R. Mullen & Associates' bid and authorized $193,000 plus contingencies for the main classroom-renovation scope in the eighth-grade wing.
Excel High School closed on June 30
Boston Public Schools says Excel High School closed at the end of the 2025-26 school year on June 30, 2026, after the School Committee approved the closure in March 2025.
Dever permanently closes after its final school year
Dever Elementary School permanently closed on June 30, 2026 after students completed their final year on June 26.
Clap merges into Lilla G. Frederick Elementary
BPS says Roger Clap Elementary and John Winthrop Elementary became one unified school effective June 30, 2026, and their communities will attend Lilla G. Frederick Elementary beginning in fall 2026.
Christa McAuliffe Charter School
School evaluates aging facilities as enrollment grows
McAuliffe began a facilities master-plan analysis covering its approximately 35,000-square-foot campus, roof leaks, modular classrooms, Adventure Center, and future space needs; Board and community feedback sessions were held in June.
Haley repair-program contract extension proposed through 2026
A June 17 Public Facilities Commission agenda proposed extending the owner-project-manager contract for boiler, roof, window, and door repairs at Haley and three other BPS schools through December 31, 2026, while increasing the shared contract by $337,500.
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