May 13, 2021 --
Dear Parents,
This Monday, May 17th, is the Annual Town Meeting at Medfield High School at 5:00 PM. There are many important items on this year’s warrant, including our annual school budget. The Medfield School Committee and Medfield Warrant Committee worked together and agreed to an increase of 3.99% for the next school year. This FY22 budget preserves our current programs and staff, yet allows us to hire a school adjustment counselor at Blake Middle School. We continue to make our students’ social-emotional health a priority in the district and this position will continue to support our work. FY22 Budget information can be found here.
Another important item involves the New Elementary School Project at the Wheelock site. Article 29 is a “Citizen’s Petition” brought forward by a handful of registered voters to stop the new school at the Wheelock site. The Wheelock site has the UNANIMOUS support of the Medfield School Committee, Medfield Board of Selectmen, and the Medfield School Building Committee. These boards represent our community. The Medfield Public Schools and the Medfield School Building Committee have been working directly with Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) for the past few years on this project and we connect and consult with MSBA on a regular basis. We have successfully hit all of the MSBA targets throughout this entire process and if funding is secured at a Special Town Meeting this fall, we will open an incredible new elementary school at the Wheelock site in September of 2024.
The New Elementary School Project continues to be an open and transparent process. We have held 7 public Community Forums (2 specifically for residents that live near Wheelock), 28 public meetings of the School Building Committee, 34 public meetings of the Communication Subcommittee, and 11 public meetings of the Sustainability Subcommittee. In addition, there was multiple Board of Selectmen meetings, updates at almost every School Committee meeting, and the recent Q and A on Medfield TV by SBC Chair, Mike Quinlan. Tonight is another opportunity to provide meaningful input to the project with “Q and A” at 7:00 PM. Again, open, honest and public.
As for the existing Dale St. School, the Medfield Permanent Building Committee has already begun the process of potentially creating a "Park and Rec Center" at the existing Dale St. School. This would support the Town of Medfield’s Master Plan Survey data that found Medfield kids want and need a place to go outside of school hours. As many of you already know, the Medfield Parks and Recreation and Medfield Public Schools already collaborate at Dale St. for summer camp activities. In addition, the Town is exploring the option of relocating the Medfield Food Cupboard to a portion of the existing Dale St. School building.
Our goal has been clear from the start. We want to provide our kids with an incredible learning environment at the lowest possible cost to the citizens of Medfield. Please visit our website to see all of the accurate information related to this project. Please participate in the process by reviewing the information and attending Annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 17th at 5:00 PM.
Lastly, our pooled testing program continues to get attention as a model for schools across the country to use for full in-person learning. Our nurses have done an incredible job organizing and implementing this efficient and effective model. Special thanks to all of the parents that enrolled their children in the program, as our participation rates really make this an effective virus surveillance program for Grades 4-12. Please read more about our program at the links below.
Auchincloss Visits Medfield High School
Auchincloss Touts Medfield Model to Congress
Medfield Superintendent a Guest at Biden’s Joint Address
Thank you for your continued support of our schools.
Sincerely,
Jeff Marsden