District overview
Marlborough Public Schools
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
A city school system advancing a major elementary replacement alongside its annual operating budget
The School Committee sets education policy, hires and evaluates the superintendent, and votes a school operating request. The Mayor proposes and City Council appropriates municipal funds, which combine local property-tax revenue with Massachusetts Chapter 70 aid and restricted grants. Major buildings are separately authorized through City debt and, when eligible, reimbursed in part by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).
The operating appropriation is a City decision
The FY27 City budget provides $84.84 million for the School Department, 2.51% above FY26, after the School Committee's workshop, hearing, and vote.
Some education costs sit outside that line
The City separately budgets school maintenance, support, insurance, retirement, debt, and the Assabet Valley regional-vocational assessment.
Capital authority is shared
The Richer School Building Committee develops the project, City Council authorizes borrowing and procurement, and MSBA approves the reimbursable scope and funding agreement.
The new school is designed around continued operations
The existing Richer school is to remain open during construction of a roughly 161,800-square-foot replacement for about 950 K-5 students, followed by demolition of the old building.
The $84.84 million School Department appropriation is not Marlborough's complete education cost because City-held maintenance, support, benefits, debt, and vocational-school accounts are budgeted separately.
Where the district stands
City operating budget; 2.51% above FY26.
Separately budgeted City account, 8.72% above FY26.
Project authorization request before final MSBA reimbursement; excludes the separate stormwater request.
Separate capital-improvement bond request associated with site flooding.
Major projects
Raymond C. Richer Elementary replacement
scope, budget, and construction manager advancingMarlborough is planning a new approximately 161,800-square-foot K-5 school for about 950 students next to the operating Richer school, followed by demolition of the old building. The financing includes City bonds and anticipated MSBA reimbursement, with separate stormwater work for the site.
- MSBA facilities committee reviewed the preferred replacement option
- MSBA advanced the project into schematic design
- City Council referred the $160.54 million school bond for finance review
- MSBA recommended the project for scope and budget action
- Construction-manager-at-risk qualifications due
Funding
City general-obligation bonds, reduced by eligible MSBA reimbursement; includes $6.3 million separate stormwater authorization
Prepared from the City FY27 budget, School Committee budget calendar and records, Richer project page and City procurement, and Massachusetts School Building Authority project materials.
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