FAQ – Alternate Options

The Neary Building Committee (NBC) considered twelve options before narrowing it to the preferred option, which the Massachusetts School Building Authorities (MSBA) required as part of its process. Ultimately, NBC narrowed the options and selected a preferred option of a new elementary school, grades two through five, located on the current Neary Elementary School campus. Below is a table of the options that were researched during the process. The options were discussed, reviewed, and vetted at the Neary Building Committee’s open meetings. 

The Preferred Option will be presented at the May 10, 2025, Town Meeting for the citizens to vote. A two-thirds vote of the town meeting attendees is required. The approval of the bonding will be a ballot question on May 13, 2025.

The Neary Building Committee is required to study the possibility of expansion as part of our Feasibility Study. The existing occupancy permit for the Woodward School would not allow us to have the current enrollment for these grades fit into this building without expansion. It also does not allow for any potential fluctuations in enrollment over time.

The Public Schools of Southborough’s leadership team does not support the inclusion of fifth-grade students at the P. Brent Trottier Middle School. The Statement of Interest (SOI) submitted to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) did not include the study of moving grade five to the P. Brent Trottier Middle School, and therefore, it was not an option outlined in MSBA’s invitation to the Town of Southborough to enter its Core Building Program. The rationale for not supporting a five through grade eight configuration is as follows: 

1. Developmental Responsiveness: Fifth-grade students are significantly younger—both socially and emotionally than their middle school peers. Fifth graders may not be ready for a middle school environment. Research* supports the importance of keeping fifth grade as part of the elementary experience and is further reinforced by research that suggests that even sixth grade is better suited to remain at the elementary school level. Furthermore, there is not widespread support from elementary parents to have fifth graders be a part of the middle school.
2. Academics and Teaching and Learning: Academically, the fifth-grade curriculum is closely aligned with kindergarten through grade five in English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies, in terms of curriculum, assessment practices, and instructional models designed specifically for elementary learners.
   
   Educators in Grade Five participate in professional development and collaboration with their colleagues in Kindergarten through grade four, who use the same curricular resources, which are different from the resources used in grades six through eight. Integrating fifth grade into a middle school structure would compromise developmental appropriateness and program quality in the core academic disciplines.
3. Educator Licensure: The middle school educator license is typically content-specific and covers six through eight. The elementary educator license is typically for grades one through grade. Each year the number of sections at each grade level is evaluated and educators shift grade levels to accommodate the number of sections required.

Operational Challenges: Adding fifth-grade students to the middle school model does not align with the carefully planned transitions, such as intentionally separating bus schedules to segment younger students from older peer influences. 

1. Challenges with scheduling
2. Four lunch periods
3. Scheduling specials
4. Students on buses with students in grades six through twelve
5. School design does not allow for a separate grade-five wing

Lastly, adding Grade Five to the P. Brent Trottier Middle School was studied In 2021-2022, by the Capital Planning Committee – School Research Subcommittee as part of its evaluation of grade-level configuration options. The subcommittee, which included ex-officio school leaders, an Advisory Committee, a School Committee, and a Capital Planning Committee member, evaluated several grade configuration options, including moving fifth grade to the P. Brent Trottier Middle School. As a result of its work, the Capital Planning Committee –  School Research Subcommittee did not recommend the option for further consideration/study. The work of the Capital Planning Committee – School Research Subcommittee was the foundational document to create the SOI that was submitted to the MSBA.

*School Grade Configuration Research

1. National Middle School Association (now AMLE)
   Research Summaries and Position Papers
2. Cook, MacCoun, Muschkin & Vigdor (2008)
   “Should Sixth Grade Be in Elementary or Middle School?” – Journal of Policy Analysis and Management
3. Offenberg, R. M. (2001)
   The Efficacy of Philadelphia’s K-to-8 Schools Compared to Middle Grades Schools – Middle School Journal
4. Alspaugh, J. W. (1998)
   Achievement Loss Associated with the Transition to Middle School and High School – Journal of Educational Research
5. Paglin & Fager (1997)
   Grade Configuration: Who Goes Where? – Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory
6. Eccles, J. S., Midgley, C., Wigfield, A., Buchanan, C. M., Reuman, D., Flanagan, C., & Mac Iver, D. (1993)
   Development during adolescence: The impact of stage-environment fit on young adolescents’ experiences in schools and in families. American Psychologist, 48(2), 90–101

If Finn were to no longer be used as a school, it would be turned over to the Town for municipal use. A committee has done a preliminary exploration of how this could be re-purposed. The Town would need to continue this exploration.

Our application to the MSBA was focused on Grades 2 through 5. Any project on the Neary site that we hope to receive some MSBA funding for must conform to those grades. The Neary site was chosen originally due to its central location in town, adjacency to the existing Trottier Middle School, and ability to expand the potential footprint of the structure or reconfigure the location on the site.

No, it’s the exact opposite. The Neary School has significant capital needs to remain a functioning and safe school. When this process started in 2020, there was extensive collaboration between the School District and Town to bring forward a responsible plan if an outcome of the Neary project allows for the closing of an elementary school.