The meeting centered around the implications of the MSBA’s enrollment figures, which will play a critical role in determining the size and funding for a proposed new middle school and elementary school in Milton. The committee was presented with an initial enrollment projection from MSBA, which had set the middle school’s enrollment base at 612 students. However, further analysis and discussions with MSBA led to an adjusted figure of 655 students, taking into account factors such as anticipated student migration and new housing developments.

A significant part of the meeting was devoted to dissecting these figures, with members expressing concern about their reliability, especially in light of the town’s housing production plan. This plan anticipates 140 new housing units, a factor that some committee members felt was inadequately reflected in the MSBA projections. There was a consensus that the enrollment numbers did not fully align with local data, prompting calls for a more examination before finalizing these figures.

The discussion also highlighted a notable decrease in projected eighth-grade enrollment, dropping from 363 to 276 students by 2026. This attrition rate raised questions about the accuracy of the projections, as historical data suggested different trends. Concerns were voiced about whether the current numbers accurately reflect the trends observed today and how they might impact the future configuration of the schools.

These enrollment figures are crucial as they directly influence the square footage and design of the new school buildings. Originally, a middle school programmatic area of over 200,000 square feet was envisioned, which has since been reduced to approximately 84,000 square feet. This reduction was primarily attributed to the lack of MSBA reimbursement for certain spaces, such as the auditorium and gymnasium, and has necessitated a careful consideration of space allocation for essential facilities like art and music rooms.

The committee’s deliberations also touched on the potential for negotiating with MSBA to adjust the enrollment figures. While some members were comfortable with the current projections, others suggested advocating for a slight increase to better accommodate future growth, possibly raising the middle school enrollment to 670 students. The methodology behind these calculations, including offsets, survival rates, and housing add-ons, was questioned, with members eager to gain a clearer understanding from MSBA’s forthcoming documentation.

There was a shared understanding among participants that any pushback or requests for revisions could potentially delay the process, emphasizing the need for strategic decision-making to avoid negative impacts on the schedule. The committee also anticipated receiving a letter from MSBA detailing three options for the school projects: additions or renovations to existing facilities, a new elementary school, and a new middle school. This letter is expected to provide clarity on the next steps in the feasibility process and will be crucial for informing future decisions.