Select Board puts a bow on Middleboro High School project

MIDDLEBORO — More than four years after the first students entered the new Middleboro High School, the final bell has officially rung on the construction project.

In the end the project cost was nearly $7 million less than had been anticipated, Robert Derosiers told Select Board members at their May 19 meeting. Derosiers chaired the building committee, made up of residents who were chosen to oversee all aspects of the project.

Select Board member Brian Giovanoni, who also sat on the building committee, credited the decrease to committee members being “very stingy’’ when considering options and making decisions.

Careful planning also allowed the building to open in April 2021, only 90 days off the original schedule despite Covid-related complications, Derosiers said.

The original budget approved by Town Meeting for the school project was $103.9 million. The final reimbursement from the state covered 43% of the total cost and 62% of the eligible cost.

The difference in the two percentages reflected that some costs, such as a larger auditorium and sports field work, are not reimbursable.  

Town Manager Jay McGrail said he anticipates the state to issue the final reimbursement in the coming weeks

Select Board members agreed unanimously to disband the building committee, more than 10 years after the group was formed in March 2015.

Committee members were: Derosiers chair; Brian Lynch, Allin Frawley, Kathy Piatelli, Robert Nunes, Richard Young, Giovanoni, Sarah Hickey, Jim Hutchinson, Nathan Demers, Andrew Sukeforth, Paul Branagan, Ellen Driscoll, Diane Stewart, Jennifer Schuler, Bob Whalen, Alan Harris, George Randall, Mark Germain, Judy MacDonald and Carolyn Lyons.

Select Board members praised the committee for bringing in the work well under budget.

“Congratulations to the committee on a fantastic job,’’ Select Board member Thomas White said.