August 25 2025
Recap: 8/21 Community Meeting
We had great turnout for last week’s Virtual Community Meeting, with over 60 attendees joining us on Zoom to learn more about the project and share ideas and questions. If you were not able to make the meeting, the video and presentation materials are now posted online.
Our next community meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 10 at 6:30pm, in person at Pollard and on Zoom. In the meantime, you can share your input through the Feedback Form on our website.
Happening This Week: PPBC Meeting
Monday, August 25, 7:30pm in person and on Zoom
PPBC meetings are recorded, and documents from past meetings can be found on the Past Meetings & Materials page. Future PPBC meetings are listed in the Events Calendar.
What is the PPBC?
The Permanent Public Building Committee is responsible for overseeing the construction, reconstruction, enlargement, or alteration of all buildings owned by the town or constructed on land owned, leased or operated by the town having a total project cost of $500,000 or more. The PPBC was formed in June 1996 and has seven members.
FAQ Spotlight
Has the town considered other options that might be less expensive than building a grade 6-8 school?
Yes, there have been multiple options explored during this multi-year process, and keeping Pollard as a 7-8 school is still one possible solution that is being considered during the remainder of the feasibility study (concluding in December 2025).
It is important to remember that the Pollard Middle School Project is just one piece of the School Master Plan, which assesses all of Needham’s school buildings for both condition and space needs. The School Master Plan was first developed and presented in 2020, and was updated in both 2022 and 2023. Through that work, three schools were identified with significant needs: High Rock has serious space issues, while both Pollard and Mitchell have urgent space AND condition needs.
Many different scenarios that could address these needs were explored and then narrowed down for further study. It was determined that the current preferred solution — to rebuild Pollard as a 6-8 school and convert High Rock back to a sixth elementary school — would be both the fastest and least expensive option, with the added educational benefit of reuniting grades 6-8 on a single campus.
While keeping Pollard 7-8 would cost less in the shorter-term, it means that Mitchell will need to be built larger and High Rock will need an addition to provide needed space. A true assessment of cost must factor in the expense of all three schools over the next 10-15 years, not just Pollard.
Save the Dates
Please join us at these upcoming sessions:
Wednesday, September 10 at 6:30pm at Pollard & on Zoom
Community Meeting: What We're Hearing
Saturday, October 4, 9:00-10:30am at Pollard
Pollard Open House: Tours and Q&A
Thursday, November 6, 6:30pm at Pollard & on Zoom
Sharing Preliminary Plans & Gathering Additional Feedback
Saturday, November 15, 9:00 - 10:30am at Pollard
Pollard Open House: Tours and Q&A
Documents & Resources
The Pollard Middle School Project website is your best source for background on the project and up-to-date information. The site will continue to be updated as the project moves forward in the coming months. Included on the site: