WESTFORD — Plans for the proposed Robinson School building project continue to evolve as officials consider additional construction options, including the potential demolition of the Abbot School building.
During the Nov. 2 School Committee meeting, officials provided an update on the project following an Oct. 27 Robinson School Building Committee meeting, where members unanimously supported moving forward with the Abbot School site rather than the alternative Farmer Way location.
The proposed project would establish a unified kindergarten-through-fifth-grade school serving 705 students, along with a centralized preschool program.
The Abbot location would minimize redistricting disruptions and avoid school assignment splits that could result from building the school at Farmer Way.
With the location and enrollment size solidified, the building committee is now evaluating whether to renovate portions of the existing Abbot building or construct a new school on the property.
However, new information about building-code requirements has complicated the decision.
Officials explained that converting the existing Abbot building into administrative offices could trigger larger upgrades, including sprinkler systems, fire alarms, accessibility improvements, air conditioning and energy-efficiency renovations.
Those requirements could make reusing the building considerably more expensive than initially anticipated.
Several alternatives are under consideration, including renovating Abbot’s gymnasium and constructing an attached school. This would mean incorporating preschool classrooms and administrative offices into the existing building, or constructing a new school alongside Abbot.
Another option discussed would be to incorporate district administrative offices into the new school building, potentially allowing the existing Abbot structure to be demolished or repurposed separately.
The district’s current administrative building, the Millennium Building, has exceeded its useful life, adding another piece to the project, and Abbot itself has also become a concern among the town.
Officials acknowledged its historical and community significance, noting that it once housed Westford Academy. However, committee members emphasized the importance of weighing preservation concerns against renovation costs and the long-term financial impact on taxpayers.
Officials also discussed the possibility that constructing an entirely new school beside Abbot could be the least expensive option. However, leaving the existing building vacant without a long-term plan could create additional concerns among residents.
As the district evaluates these alternatives, officials are proposing a two-month extension to the project’s next deadline with the Massachusetts School Building Authority.
Under the revised schedule, design alternatives would continue to be developed in November, with cost estimates prepared in December and reviewed in January.
The building committee anticipates selecting a preferred option in early February 2027.
Despite the proposed schedule adjustment, officials said they still expect to maintain the overall timeline for an October 2027 Town Meeting vote and a November ballot vote.
The district has scheduled an in-person and virtual community forum for Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Stony Brook Middle School, followed by a virtual forum on Nov. 20 at noon.
