Will the Feasibility Study take into account updated population assessment, to size any proposed additions or new construction accordingly?

• The School Committee and the MSBA independently completed population estimate projections.  Both sides have agreed on updated population estimates for Millis that would be included in the Feasibility Study as part of the project sizing with is 645 student enrollment for grades 6-12.

 

Do we know whether we are renovating the Middle/High School, or constructing a new building or what type of building?

• The MSBA Feasibility Study process is estimated to take 18 months and the School Building Committee (SBC) is required to evaluate both addition/renovation and new construction options. The SBC worked to actively seek community engagement along the way through a series of community forums that will provide information on the possible updates or improvements to the Middle/High School building.  In February 2025 the SBC, School Committee and Select Board all voted to recommend the preferred option AR4a which is an addition and renovation solution that builds a new middle school and gym wing then renovates the existing high school.

 

What is the MSBA Reimbursement rate for this project?

• Millis’ expected reimbursement rate for this project is between 54.5 and 55% based on all incentives for which the project may qualify to receive.  While this is the reimbursement rate for the entire project, the MSBA does cap the amount of total dollars in some categories that are eligible for reimbursement.  More details will be provided once final estimates are complete and the MSBA has reviewed the submission in Fall 2025.

 

Why do we need an addition/renovation to the existing Middle/High School?
The current Middle/High School faces significant challenges:

• Building and Program Deficiencies:

  • Many classrooms are undersized, and overcrowded.  Several ancillary spaces lacking proper ventilation are being used for instruction.

  • The current building is outdated, with spaces that don’t support modern learning experiences.

  • The current building lacks classrooms properly equipped for teaching the sciences.

• Deteriorating Infrastructure:

  • The building has poor insulation and inefficient HVAC system.

  • The electrical system is original, with needs that exceed the capacity, and replacement parts are no longer manufactured. 

  • The current roof was installed over 30 years ago, is failing, and needs to be replaced.

  • Water infiltration through windows, doors and HVAC openings.

  • The building does not meet accessibility standards.

• Overcrowding and Population Growth:

  • The existing school struggles to accommodate increased enrollment coming in from the Clyde Brown grades.

 

How would the proposed project benefit the town?

• The town will benefit from increased and improved educational space, a new gymnasium, adequate parking, improved traffic circulation and stopping further building deterioration.

• Modern energy-efficient building systems would reduce operational costs over time.

• The proposed project would provide greater building security, increasing student and staff safety.

 

What is the significance of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) program and its participation with Millis?

• The MSBA was created by legislature in 2004 to replace the former school building assistance program administered by the Department of Education.  The MSBA uses a dedicated revenue stream of one penny from the 6.25% state’s sales tax to invest in school building projects throughout the state.  To enter the program, municipalities must apply by submitting a Statement of Interest (SOI) and then be selected by the MSBA on a need-based basis.  Once accepted into a Feasibility Study, the municipality is provided with an MSBA Reimbursement Rate based on income, property wealth, and poverty factors. 

• The Town of Millis has been granted a baseline reimbursement rate of 53.53% to eligible project costs. There is the ability to earn additional incentive reimbursement points.

 

What is the expected cost of the proposed Middle/High School project?

• The proposed addition/renovation project is expected to cost between $125 - $130 million, with a $44.7 to $56.2 million reimbursement from the MSBA.

 

Why not an all-new replacement building project?

• Given the limited land area in Town, a new middle/high school would be built behind the existing high school triggering millions of extra dollars for replacement fields, track, stands as well as the loss of the existing fields for 3 – 4 years necessitating off site rental costs

• Construction costs have risen due to recent inflation and material price increases. New construction costs far outpace the MSBA’s reimbursement thresholds shifting a higher percentage of the project cost onto the town.

• MSBA-supported schools are expected to be durable, built to high quality, and last for 50 years or longer. With a renovation the Town can take on a large percentage of the upgrades with the project capital investment, but also phase future upgrades to allow using the remaining life left in bldg. components that don’t need to be upgraded at the time of the project.

 

How will the town finance this project?

• If approved at the ballot, the town will finance the project by borrowing through a debt exclusion.

 

How will this impact my taxes?

Information on tax impact will be provided later in the project, when estimates are more certain.

 

What happens if the town does not approve funding for the project?

• Millis will not receive MSBA reimbursement.  The Town will exit the MSBA program and must reapply yearly.   When the Town is ready a new feasibility study would need to be funded and paid by the town directly, with no MSBA reimbursement.  This typically entails a 4-7 year delay to address the buildings renovation or replacement.

• The Middle/High school will still have a need for costly repairs and potentially temporary modulars.

• Millis will eventually need to make mandatory ADA/Code compliance upgrades.

 

How will a school building project impact ongoing educational program?

• Should the town appropriate funds for the proposed building project, the new middle school addition will be constructed first.  The new wing along with the High school wing that will be demolished will be used as temporary swing space as other wings are renovated.  Throughout construction, phasing will be planned strategically to complete the most disruptive activities over school vacations, and if needed, after-hours and weekends.  Once the renovations have been completed, the Southwestern wing will be demolished and the bus loop will be installed, followed by final landscape improvements.

What is the role of the School Building Committee (SBC) in this project?

• The SBC, required by the MSBA, oversees the project from planning to completion. The SBC is a committee built on top of the Towns standing Permanent Building Committee, but adds the school and Town leadership representatives that are prescribed to participate per MSBA guidelines.

 

How will the SBC keep the community involved and informed?

• Updates will be provided through the project website, community forums, and monthly public SBC meetings. Community input is encouraged to attend or review community forum slide shows stored on the project website.

 

When would the construction of the proposed building project commence, and when would the building be complete?

• Construction of the proposed project would commence Spring of 2027, starting with the new Middle School Addition, to be completed in November of 2028.  Once the new building section is available for use as swing space, major renovations would begin, and the building would be complete by Fall of 2029.  The unrenovated section of the eastern classroom wing would be abated and demolished Summer of 2029, and site work, roadways, and parking lots would be completed by the end of 2029.