Middle School Roof Project Cost Rises to $11.8M with Lower State Reimbursement

What happened

At the March 12, 2026 meeting, Superintendent Carpenter reported the middle school roofing project now totals $11.8 million, with state reimbursement dropping from an expected 37% to about 33% because a previously replaced roof section is ineligible, increasing the district's loan burden to roughly $7.9 million split between the two towns.

Why it matters to families

The reduced reimbursement rate materially increases local taxpayer and district debt exposure for a major facilities project, requiring town meeting approval of the higher amount.

The evidence

A roofing project costing $11.8 million will be presented at town meetings, with a state reimbursement of 37% expected... New information reveals that a section of the roof will not be reimbursed due to its age... Overall state reimbursement could drop to 33%, leading to a $7.9 million loan for the school district split between towns.

The source