Skip to content

Seeking Your Input: Peaslee Building Project

Dear Northborough Community Member,

The Town is at an important point in planning for the future of Peaslee Elementary School. Originally constructed in 1962, the building's core systems are beyond their lifespan and require significant investment. The decisions ahead will have long-term implications for our students, schools, and the broader community.

Northborough is partnering with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), which has invited the Town to participate in its Core Building Program. Through this partnership, MSBA is expected to reimburse approximately 48.68% of eligible project costs, representing a substantial opportunity to improve school facilities with state support. Northborough’s most recent MSBA partnership, the Lincoln Street Elementary School project in 2011, received 52.88% reimbursement. To learn more about MSBA, please visit the MSBA website.

The Town and School District are currently evaluating potential grade configurations for the Public Schools of Northborough, including maintaining the existing elementary neighborhood school model or exploring elementary grade-span consolidation. Each grade configuration option presents different educational, operational, and financial considerations.

This survey is designed for the Peaslee Building Committee to better understand what matters most to the Northborough community, particularly regarding educational programming, grade configuration, and the overall cost and impact on taxpayers. Your input will play an important role in informing the direction of this project.
1.Which best describes you? Select all that apply.
2.What is your age range?
3.Do you live in Northborough?
4.How important are each of the following factors in your decision-making process?
Extremely important
Very important
Moderately important
Slightly important
Not important
Overall project cost
Impact on taxes
Maintaining four elementary neighborhood schools
Shifting to a PreK-2 and 3-5 grade span model
Sense of community
Operational efficiency
Limit the number or student transitions among schools
As part of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) partnership, the Peaslee Building Committee is exploring different options for organizing Northborough's elementary schools. Linked are summaries of two models under consideration, including key advantages and important considerations.

Option 1: Maintaining Four Neighborhood Schools (K-5)
Result: A New Peaslee Elementary School - Grades PK-5, Enrollment 310

Option 2: Three PreK-2 Schools and One 3-5 School
Result: A New Peaslee Elementary School - Grades 3-5, Enrollment 625
5.Based on what you know today, how do you feel about each option?
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Neutral / unsure
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
Need more information
Option 1: Maintain neighborhood schools (PreK–5)
Option 2: Changing to a Grade span model (PreK–2 and 3–5 model)
6.How important is minimizing cost and tax impact in your decision?
7.If you had to make a decision today, which option would you support?
8.What questions would you like the Town or School District to address?
9.How would you prefer to receive updates? Select all that apply.
10.How often would you like updates?
11.Any additional information you would like to communicate.