High School Building Committee Hosts Tuesday Public Forum

It’s the subject that many residents in town are , and on Tuesday night those residents will get the chance to do so in front of the right town officials.

The High School Building Committee hosts a public forum at 6:30 p.m. in the Wilmington High School auditorium to discuss a potential new or renovated facility and the feasibility timeline that comes with it.

Officials will not move forward with a new building unless they have support of the community, so this will likely be a good gage of what to expect.

“The Wilmington High School building project is significant to each and every resident of the Town of Wilmington,” said Superintendent of Schools Joanne Benton. “This project is more than a school building; it is the development of a major, long term town asset. We want to hear from the community. The decisions to be made will affect young people’s lives for generations to come. After all, the residents of Wilmington will be making an investment in our students’ future.”

Benton said there will be a presentation that includes the project history, feasibility timeline, existing conditions assessment, design options and public comments.

The topic of a new high school has . As a part of the feasibility study, an outside firm was hired to present several options for potential new schools. That group will be represented during Tuesday’s meeting.

At a recent debate for School Committee candidates, much of the conversation revolved around high school options.

Benton and Town Manager Michael Caira have both said now is the time to act on a new high school since the town can likely receive about 50 percent of the cost back from the state.

Wilmington Patch will provide complete coverage of the meeting, so check back on Wednesday.

“It is an opportunity for the residents of Wilmington to review the site options, get questions answered and weigh in on the decision to renovate, add on, or construct a new high school,” said Benton. “We hope to narrow down site options, to get a pulse on what residents are thinking and respond to any concerns the community may have.”