Foxborough School Committee Discusses High School Renovation, Direction of Budget

Katie Adair, chairwoman of the Foxborough school committee, told the school committee board Monday night, April 25, that the district's High School renovation project is on track to be completed in the fall 2011.

Adair said that the building's gymnasium ceiling was painted over break along with the completion of window replacement. Contractors are also currently working on renovations in the high school's media center.

Superintendent, Dr. Christopher Martes, noted that the gymnasium floor is set to be replaced in 2 weeks.

"[At the completion] of the renovation we will have a state of the art gymnasium and wellness center," said Martes. "More importantly we are on time and under budget for the project."

School Committee member Martha Slattery expressed her concerns over rumors that the town is looking to take back any left over money from the high school renovation project.

"I am concerned and unnerved that the town may take back our left over money [to use] for the town renovation project," said Slattery. "We had to jump through hoops to get this project online and I am concerned our left over money is going to be shifted to the town."

Slattery noted that any leftover renovation money should be utilized for other projects and or needs in the school systems.

"There are other things we have to do in the schools systems," Slattery said. "I just don’t want to see that money disappear."

The school committee decided to draft a memo to the town concerning the use of the funds and stated that no decisions on the budget should be made until the project is officially completed.

"I move to make a motion that we send a memo to the town saying that we are concerned about freeing up any kind of money or assuming there is any money to give," Slattery concluded.