West Bridgewater School Committee Approves Policies, Eyes $169 Million Building Vote

WEST BRIDGEWATER — November 3, 2025 — West Bridgewater School Committee advances policy slate and hears $169 million building project update. Superintendent Kevin Baroud told the committee at its November 3 meeting that the town's share of a proposed new K-6 elementary school would be just over $97 million against a total project cost of $169 million, with roughly $72 million covered by a Massachusetts School Building Authority grant — and that repairing the existing Rose L. McDonald and Howard schools to code, without adding a single classroom, would cost approximately $96 million. The committee voted unanimously on a full slate of district policies, including fundraising and booster-organization policies requiring 501(c)(3) compliance, and approved $33,505.44 in donations and $25,500 in grants, the latter including a $22,000 state hate-crimes-prevention grant written by curriculum director Keitha Giannis. Members also voted to direct MASC delegate Kara Lizardi to support removal of BMI screening from public schools and to renew six expiring MASC resolutions at the November 14 delegate assembly. A sustained discussion of physical education time at the middle-senior high school — flagged independently by member J.P. Waller and by the student advisory committee — ended with the superintendent committing to consult the building principal and return with proposals before any future scheduling decisions are made.