School Committee Eyes New MSBA Application After Town Rejects Elementary School Project

WEST BRIDGEWATER — February 2, 2026 — West Bridgewater School Committee pivots to capital maintenance after voters soundly reject new elementary school. At the February 2 meeting, Superintendent John Bodwell reported that a January 31 special town meeting rejected the proposed K-6 school at the Roselle McDonald site with just over 27 percent support — far below the required two-thirds majority — leaving the district facing a Massachusetts School Building Authority deadline in April to file a formal response within 10 business days. Bodwell outlined three options, with committee members converging on resubmitting a new statement of interest to the MSBA, though he cautioned the authority has indicated it will likely not fund a feasibility study for a second elementary project within the same scope; the district absorbed roughly $550,000 of the $1.2 million feasibility cost on the failed project. The committee voted unanimously to approve the 2026-27 Program of Studies, adding new courses including AP Art and Design, ceramics, music theory, AI fundamentals, a business technology course, and sports officiating, while reducing the high school physical education graduation credit requirement from 15 to 12.5 to create more schedule flexibility. An updated five-year capital improvement plan targeting deferred maintenance and safety work at all three elementary schools is due to the town's capital budget committee by March 6.