For Immediate Release

Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Easton Superintendent Lisha Cabral Encourages Residents to Attend Town Meeting for New School Project Vote

EASTON — Superintendent Lisha Cabral would like to remind Easton parents and residents about the upcoming Special Town Meeting vote on the Early Elementary School Project.

The meeting will take place on Monday, Oct. 28, at the Ames Sports Complex at Stonehill College, 320 Washington St., starting at 7 p.m. The school project will be the only topic on the agenda.

Town Meeting members will be asked to vote on whether or not to authorize the borrowing of funds for the town’s share of funding the school project.

There will also be a town-wide ballot vote on whether to approve a debt-exclusion override for the project on Tuesday, Nov. 5. This will take place at the standard voting site at Oliver Ames High School, 100 Lothrop St.

The project would consolidate the district’s three elementary schools serving grades pre-K to 2 – Moreau Hall, Center School and Parkview School – into one building on the current site of the Parkview School.

The project cost is approximately $95 million, with $36 million funded through a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority. The Town would pay the remaining $59 million, over a period of 30 years.

If the project is not approved by residents, the estimated base cost of repairing the three current schools would be more than $86 million, with the Town bearing the total cost.

A design plan for the new school calls for a two-story building with pre-K and kindergarten classrooms on the first floor separated by different wings, and first and second grade classrooms on the second floor.

The school will also feature a central area with two cafeterias, a gymnasium and a media center.

In August, the School Planning Committee approved adding the district’s administrative offices to the school as well. The district currently rents a space at 50 Oliver St. for these offices.

For more information, visit the Easton Early Elementary School Project website.

ABOUT THE MEETING:

Voters will be handed a ballot when they arrive at the meeting, and are encouraged to bring a black pen to streamline the voting process.

Parking at Stonehill College is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Town officials strongly urge residents who wish to park at Stonehill to carpool and arrive early. Voters will only be permitted to enter from the Belmont Street (Route 123) entrance. Voters will be directed to parking by staff once on campus. 

Doors will open at 5 p.m., and food will be available for purchase.

Parking will also be available at the Easton Industrial Park, with free shuttle service to and from the campus.

There will be free babysitting services for school-aged children offered at Moreau Hall (360 Washington St.) starting at 5:30 p.m. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Parents may sign up by clicking here. Children must be picked up within 30 minutes of the conclusion of the meeting.

Light snacks and water will be available for all children; sandwiches and drinks may be brought by children in a clearly marked bag with their name. No peanut products are allowed.

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