The Milton School Building Committee signaled a potential shift in the town’s facilities strategy Monday night, voting unanimously to hire an architect to evaluate the Laboure College campus for future school use. The move comes as the college prepares to close its doors and put the campus on the market this August, offering the town a rare opportunity to acquire existing infrastructure to alleviate overcrowding.

Superintendent John Falen detailed a recent tour of the site, which includes three well-maintained buildings. Falen suggested the campus could serve as a dedicated home for administrative and specialized services. We believe central office, the business office, and special education could move there, freeing up space at the High School, Falen said, adding that the district might even move an entire grade level to the site. He noted that while the site lacks green space, it offers a sustainable alternative to new construction: This site doesn't take green space; it's an existing building, which is good from a green perspective.

The committee intends to use a portion of the $1.5 million in funds allocated by the town last February to pay for the architectural analysis. Mark Loring emphasized the need for professional guidance before committing to the site. There's no cafeteria or movement space, Loring observed. I'm hoping we can bring on some expertise—a designer—to do conceptual layouts and code reviews to see what we can and can't do with the space. Chair Sean Burke agreed, noting the study must address modern requirements. We need an architect to understand the stretch energy code and what renovations are required, Burke said, specifically requesting assessments of the buildings' thermal envelopes and structural integrity.

The potential acquisition could also impact the scope of other ongoing capital projects. Gary Hurley suggested a strategic shift in the town's building portfolio. You could take non-reimbursable spaces from our current project and move them to Laboure, potentially resulting in a smaller Gile Road project while growing the town's portfolio, Hurley noted. Motion Made by M. Loring to procure an architect for conceptual layouts, code reviews, and costing for the Laboure College site. Motion Passed (9-0-0).

In addition to the Laboure site, the committee is moving forward with the procurement of an Owners Project Manager (OPM) for the Gile Road project. Burke reported that a recent sidewalk tour of the property drew nearly 30 interested firms. A subcommittee consisting of Glenn Hoffman, Scott Terishek, and Tim Lombard will shortlist candidates later this month, with full committee interviews scheduled for early June. Burke expects a competitive process, noting, This time I'm anticipating a lot more than three based on that sidewalk tour.

The committee also pivoted to address concerns regarding enrollment data. The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) has requested a formal response to enrollment analysis parts two and three provided by local citizens. To handle this, the committee formed a new working group to conduct a deep dive into the data starting in June. I'll volunteer because I've got the biggest legacy on the enrollment analysis, Burke said. Nathan Hutter, who served on the original enrollment group, also stepped forward, saying, I can help since I was on the original enrollment group. They will be joined by Scott Terishek and Shauna Willick. I'm happy to volunteer, but with my son graduating May 15th, I have zero time before then. If it's in June, that's fantastic, Willick said. I'm happy to volunteer, Terishek added.

Burke concluded the meeting by outlining his planned update for the upcoming Town Meeting. He intends to brief residents on the year's progress with the MSBA and introduce the Laboure option as a serious contender for the town’s facilities master plan. While the committee is not seeking new funding at this session, Burke noted the importance of educating the public on why the town continues to require expanded school capacity.