Robinson School Building Project

A stone sign for Col. John Robinson School with a positive message stands in front of a brick building.

AT A GLANCE:
Westford is deciding how to fix aging elementary school buildings at Robinson, Abbot and Day, a choice that could affect all six elementary schools. The study narrowed 18 designs to 7 options. Five of the 7 involve closing Robinson, some also close Abbot or Day. This fall, choices are being made about the preschool model, school size, grade structure and site. Ultimately one preferred option will be selected by the Building Committee in late November. These choices would not affect schools until a building project opens (about 2031), and only if voters approve funding at both Town Meeting and the ballot in Fall 2027.  Do you have questions about this project? Email our committee members at: info@RobinsonSchoolProject.com

Community Input: If you have questions, someone else might be thinking the same thing.  This lets us understand what the community wants us to address as we continue through the process and build the FAQ. Share your questions one by one and keep them focused on this school building project. Then read what others have shared and rate the questions you most want addressed. You can come back as often as you like to rate new questions as others add them. Survey link: https://tejoin.com/scroll/916148749

Timeline and Decision Tracker:

Date Who Decision Status
Sept 9 Forum Enrollment and grade level options Slides: 9-9Forum.pdf
Recording: https://youtu.be/Lm7SyqXsTzY
Oct 5 School Committee Choice of preschool model Voted: Centralized PreK [7-0]
Oct 13 Building Committee HVAC System Voted: Hybrid Geothermal System [10-0]
Oct 14 Forum Updates on options Slides: Oct14slides.pdf
Recording: TBD
Oct 19 School Committee School size / grade structure Upcoming
Oct 27 Building Committee Site location Upcoming
Nov 17 Forum Updates on options 6:30 PM; At Stony Brook and on Zoom: https://tinyurl.com/Nov17RSBCreg
Nov 20 Forum Updates on options 12:00 PM; Virtual only
Registration Link coming soon
Nov 24 Building Committee Preferred option selected Upcoming
Dec 8 Building Committee/
Tri-Board		 Recommend preferred option to MSBA Upcoming
2027   Work to refine design and cost  
Fall 2027 Town Meeting
Ballot Vote		 Funding vote  

 

The 7 Options, Two Paths:

  1. Keep Robinson open (2 of 7 options). Renovated or newly built on its current site. Elementary schools retain K-2 -> 3-5 structure.
  2. Close Robinson and consolidate (5 of 7 options). Every elementary school becomes K–5. The consolidated school is built at Abbot (705 or 1,065 students — Day also closes if 1,065 is chosen), or as a new school near Stony Brook Middle School (705 students with Abbot closing).

Common Questions:
Will my child's school close? Possibly, depending on which option is chosen, but not until 2031 if the project is approved by voters. Check the 7 Options for study below.
How can I give input before a decision is made? Attend the forums (Sept 9, Oct 14, Nov 17) or email the Committee at info@RobinsonSchoolProject.com. The building committee meetings are open to the public as well.  

Ways to follow the committee's progress

 

upcoming forums with registration links

Upcoming Forums

  • Wednesday, Sept 9 at 6:30 PM: on Zoom and in-person at Stony Brook MS Auditorium
    Zoom registration - https://tinyurl.com/Sept9RSBCreg
    Topic: Impact to district boundaries and enrollment choice
  • Wednesday, Oct 14 at 6:30 PM: on Zoom and in-person at Stony Brook MS Auditorium
    Zoom registration - https://tinyurl.com/Oct14RSBCreg
    Topic: HVAC recommendation and revised alternatives
  • Tuesday, Nov 17 at 6:30 PM: on Zoom and in-person at Stony Brook MS Auditorium
    Zoom registration - https://tinyurl.com/Nov17RSBCreg
    Topic: Final Alternatives
  • *NEWLY ADDED* Friday, Nov 20 at 12:00 PM: Virtual only
    Zoom registration - coming soon!
    Topic: Updates on options

Recordings

Frequently Asked Questions -- Coming Soon!