Authority Staff Recommends State To Fund Feasibility Study For Framingham Schools

Originally published at 5 p.m. on Dec. 22. Updated for the Wednesday newsletter.

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The Massachusetts School Building Authority is expected to vote on January 27, to fund a feasibility study to renovate or replace Fuller Middle School.

Framingham Superintendent of Schools Stacy Scott announced on the district’s web site late today, Dec. 22., that the authority’s staff will recommend the Board approve Framingham’s application - its third application in as many years.

Framingham Public Schools applied to renovate or replace Fuller Middle School, the former Framingham South High School.

“Each year, the staff of the MSBA recommends to its Board a list of candidates and this year Fuller is on the list. Pending the vote of the Board on January 27, Framingham Public Schools will move ahead with plans for a year-long Feasibility Study which will help determine our plans for the program,” wrote Scott on the district’s website.

“We are elated with the prospect of this support which coincides with the proposal to acquire land as a possible site for building a new school. Congratulations to the Town that worked as a team to make this possible,” wrote Scott.

Framingham School Committee and then Framingham Selectmen both recently took unanimous votes to purchase 12 acres of property on Bethany Road for a future school. A Special Town Meeting will be called in February to as Town Meeting members to purchase that property.

Last week, Scott said the earliest construction could begin at the Bethany Road property, on a school, if everything was approved by the state and Town Meeting, was 2018.

Selectmen last week pushed for a new K-8 school to be built on the site, but the state’s study, if approved to be funded in January 2016, would identify options for the Town on what is best needed.