Superintendent Brand: Wildwood Town Meeting Vote Is 'Critical'

WILMINGTON, MA — Wilmington will have to foot the costs of school renovations if residents vote down funding a feasibility study for a new Wildwood School, Superintendent Glenn Brand warned in a letter to the community ahead of the Tuesday special town meeting on the issue.

Voters at the meeting will vote on one article: whether to appropriate $1.2 million for the study, as part of the Massachusetts School Building Authority grant program.

"A successful vote on March 8 by residents allows us to continue in this program," Brand said. "An unsuccessful vote leads to our termination from the program. As a result, the community would need to absorb all costs associated with any new school construction or renovation."

The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Shriners Auditorium, 99 Fordham Road.

The town was invited into the grant program, which would cover part of the design and construction costs of a new building, the town said. But for the town to stay eligible, the funds for a feasibility study must be appropriated by March 28 — a month before the April 30 annual town meeting.

"Following a thorough vetting process of over 70 applications from communities across the state, the MSBA recognized the school building-related needs of our community given the age of our six elementary schools and extended an invitation for us into their very competitive grant program," the superintendent said. "We are at a critical juncture in this current process as MSBA has clear and necessary steps for any community that have to be followed."

The Finance Committee unanimously approved the appropriation at a Feb. 15 meeting and recommends voters approve the article, it said Monday.

Meeting protocols are available here from the town moderator. There will be childcare available at the meeting for PreK to grade 5 children. Sign up here.

The Wildwood School is the town's oldest school, built 66 years ago, Superintendent Glenn Brand noted in a prior message to the community.

"While it has served the community well for many years, it is worn, tired and no longer provides the type of educational space appropriate for the students and staff it serves," Brand wrote. "The Town's invitation into the MSBA program provides an opportunity for Wilmington to explore viable options to renovate or replace the Wildwood."

The school district has a website dedicated to the proposed new Wildwood building. Additional information is also available in this brochure from the school district.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.