In April 2023, the Town of Chelmsford and the Chelmsford Public Schools (the “District”) submitted a Statement of Interest (SOI) to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to address critical educational and facility-related challenges. In December 2024, the MSBA formally invited the District to participate in a Feasibility Study. This important step allows the community and the MSBA to work together to explore long-term options and reach a mutually agreed-upon solution that is both cost-effective and educationally appropriate.

The SOI outlined several urgent needs facing the District. Overcrowding remains a serious issue, limiting instructional flexibility and the District’s ability to accommodate future enrollment. Many of the existing modular classrooms—originally intended as temporary structures—have exceeded their useful life. Additionally, the current school configuration has led to inequities in program space among schools, making it difficult to provide a consistent educational experience for all middle school students. The building layout, particularly the organization of classrooms in the lower level, has no corridors, which poses challenges for effective teaching and learning.

From a facility standpoint, the building—originally constructed in 1965 and opened in 1967—is outdated and deteriorating. While limited upgrades have occurred over the years, most of the major systems, including electrical, HVAC, and plumbing, are original to the structure and in need of full replacement. Many areas within the school, such as corridors, internal conference rooms, and the gymnasium, lack proper ventilation. The electrical infrastructure, including subpanels, lighting systems, the fire alarm panel, and the emergency generator, no longer meets current building codes and must be replaced. The building also lacks a full sprinkler system, raising safety concerns.

Furthermore, any substantial renovation would trigger requirements for full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the implementation of a fully automated fire suppression system. The school’s exterior also suffers from deficiencies that would need to be addressed as part of any comprehensive solution.

Ultimately, maintaining the status quo is no longer a viable option. The building has outlived its intended lifespan and can no longer support the needs of delivering a modern educational program. This project represents a necessary investment in the future of Chelmsford’s students—ensuring they learn in safe, healthy, equitable, and up-to-date environments that reflect the high standards of education our community expects and deserves.

The Town of Chelmsford and Chelmsford Public Schools are partnering with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) on the Colonel Moses Parker Middle School Building Project.

The MSBA is a quasi-independent state authority that supports public school building projects across Massachusetts. The MSBA provides a structured process for planning, reviewing, and approving school building projects. It also provides reimbursement funding for eligible project costs, which helps reduce the amount paid by the local community.

Through this process, the MSBA works with communities to develop school projects that are educationally appropriate, cost-effective, sustainable, and energy-efficient.

For more information on the MSBA, please click here.

Some project documents use abbreviations from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) process. These terms describe different steps in the project review and design process.

FS – Feasibility Study
The Feasibility Study is the overall study phase of the project. During this phase, the project team reviews existing school conditions, enrollment needs, educational goals, site conditions, traffic, utilities, cost, schedule, and different possible solutions. The purpose is to understand the problems that need to be solved and determine the best path forward.

PDP – Preliminary Design Program
The Preliminary Design Program is the first major report submitted during the Feasibility Study. It documents the existing conditions, educational needs, enrollment information, and a broad range of possible options. These options may include repairs, renovation/addition, new construction, and different grade configurations or site options.

PSR – Preferred Schematic Report
The Preferred Schematic Report is the next major report submitted during the Feasibility Study. It takes the options studied in the PDP and narrows them down to a preferred solution. The PSR explains why the preferred option was selected and includes more information about the proposed building, site, educational program, estimated cost, and schedule. For this project, the preferred solution is a new Grades 4–6 school at the current Parker Middle School site.

SD – Schematic Design
Schematic Design is the next phase after the preferred solution is approved to move forward. During this phase, the project team develops the design in greater detail, including the building layout, site plan, educational spaces, major building systems, project budget, and updated cost estimate.

In simple terms, the Feasibility Study determines the best solution, and Schematic Design develops that solution in more detail before the Town is asked to vote on project funding.

During the feasibility study phase, the Town, School District, School Building Committee, Ai3 Architects, and LeftField, the Owner’s Project Manager, completed the detailed planning and analysis required by the Massachusetts School Building Authority before a preferred project could be selected.

This work included reviewing the existing conditions at Parker and McCarthy Middle Schools, analyzing enrollment needs, developing the educational program, and evaluating how different grade configurations could address overcrowding and long-term facility needs across the school district.

The project team studied multiple options, including base repair/code upgrades, addition/renovation, and new construction. Each option was reviewed for educational value, cost, schedule, construction impacts, site use, sustainability, and long-term benefit to Chelmsford students and families.

The process also included multiple visioning sessions with educators, administrators, students, parents, and community members, along with School Building Committee meetings and community forums.

At the end of the feasibility study phase, the preferred solution identified was a new school with a 4–6 grade configuration at the current Parker Middle School site. This option was selected because it best addresses elementary school overcrowding, reduces reliance on modular classrooms, supports modern teaching and learning, and provides a long-term district-wide solution for the Town of Chelmsford. To see how the preferred option addresses overcrowding at the elementary schools, please click here.

The preferred new school 4-6 grade configuration solution at the current Parker Middle School site was selected as the preferred option because it provides the best long-term, district-wide solution for Chelmsford.

This option directly addresses overcrowding at the elementary schools by moving grade 4 students from the existing overcrowding elementary schools into a new, purpose-built school designed for a 4-6 grade configuration. This allows the existing elementary schools to serve Grades K–3 and reduces the District’s reliance on modular classrooms.

The preferred solution also supports modern teaching and learning by providing appropriately sized classrooms, flexible learning areas, special education and student support spaces, technology spaces, music, art, physical education, and other program areas that are difficult to provide in the existing Parker school.

The Parker site was preferred because it allows the new school to be built where middle school programs already exist, while keeping the existing Parker Middle School open during construction. It also avoids the larger impacts associated with other sites studied, including the loss of athletic fields, traffic concerns, and the placement of too many students on a single campus.

After reviewing educational value, cost, schedule, construction impacts, site use, sustainability, and long-term benefit, the School Building Committee determined that a new Grades 4–6 school at the Parker site best meets Chelmsford’s district-wide educational, enrollment, and facility needs.

The District recognizes the importance of providing 4th-grade students with an age-appropriate learning environment and a smooth transition from the K–3 schools. The school will be designed with physical and schedule separation in mind, often referred to as a “school-within-a-school” model. Grade 4 students will have their own dedicated academic wings, and potentially separate drop-offs, and staggered lunch/recess periods. The curriculum and daily structure will remain developmentally appropriate for upper-elementary students, with a focus on a smooth transition from K-3 schools.

This may include strategies such as organizing grade-level academic areas, managing student circulation, coordinating lunch and recess schedules, and creating developmentally appropriate spaces and academic routines. While the final layout and operational plan will be developed during design, the goal is to create a school environment that supports the academic, social, and emotional needs of 4th-grade students and enables them to benefit from the resources of a modern upper-elementary school.

McCarthy Middle School will remain in use and will continue to serve students in Grades 7–8 as Chelmsford’s upper middle school.

Once the new Parker School is completed, Grade 4 students will move from the elementary schools to the new Grades 4–6 school at the current Parker Middle School site. At that point, the elementary schools will serve students in Grades K–3.

This grade configuration is intended to help reduce overcrowding at the elementary schools, reduce reliance on modular classrooms, and provide Grade 4, 5, and 6 students with a school designed specifically for their academic, social, and developmental needs.

No students will move until the new school is completed and ready to open. As the project moves closer to completion, the District will develop and share a transition plan to help students, staff, and families prepare for the change. This will include clear communication, opportunities for families to learn more about the new school, and planning with staff to support a smooth and successful transition for students.

The current MSBA project is focused on replacing the existing Parker Middle School with a new school for Grades 4–6. McCarthy Middle School will remain in use and will continue to serve students in Grades 7–8 as Chelmsford’s upper middle school. As part of the Feasibility Study, the project team reviewed existing conditions at both Parker and McCarthy Middle Schools. While the preferred solution does not include a major renovation or replacement of McCarthy as part of this MSBA project, the District will continue to evaluate and maintain McCarthy through its regular facilities, maintenance, and capital planning processes.

Moving to a Grades 4–6 and Grades 7–8 model is intended to improve district-wide equity. By housing all of Chelmsford’s 7th and 8th-grade students at McCarthy, the District can consolidate and enhance upper-middle school programming, including academic offerings, student support services, athletics, clubs, and electives.

Equity does not mean that both schools will be identical. It means that students at each grade level will have access to appropriate programs, support services, and learning environments designed for their age and educational needs. The new Grades 4–6 school will provide modern instructional and support spaces for intermediate students, while McCarthy will continue to provide a focused upper middle school environment for Grades 7–8. This configuration also helps reduce elementary school overcrowding, reduce reliance on modular classrooms, and create more consistent grade-level experiences for students across Chelmsford.

Keeping students, staff, and visitors safe while the existing Parker Middle School remains open is a primary focus of the project team. The preferred new construction option allows the new school to be built on the Parker site while the existing school continues to operate. Once the new school is complete and occupied, the existing building will be demolished, followed by final site restoration and field work.

Before construction begins, a detailed Construction Management Plan will be developed. This plan will address construction fencing, site access, construction vehicle routes, deliveries, staging areas, emergency access, parking, pedestrian routes, and separation between the active school and construction areas. Construction zones will be physically separated from school operations with secure barriers and controlled access points. Construction traffic and deliveries will be coordinated to minimize conflicts with student arrival, dismissal, bus circulation, parent drop-off/pick-up, and neighborhood traffic.

During Schematic Design, the project team will continue to evaluate site circulation, traffic flow, bus operations, parent drop-off/pick-up, pedestrian access, emergency vehicle access, and neighborhood impacts. The goal is to maintain a safe and orderly school environment while reducing disruption to students, staff, families, and nearby residents throughout construction.

The District and project team will continue to communicate with the school community as construction planning becomes more detailed.

A base repair/code upgrade option was studied during the Feasibility process. This option would address many of the existing building’s major code and infrastructure needs, including accessibility, a full fire suppression system, and deficiencies in mechanical, electrical, plumbing, ventilation, and the building envelope.

However, this type of work would still represent a major investment. Preliminary planning showed that a base repair/code upgrade could potentially cost the Town roughly $100 million, while still leaving many of the District’s core challenges unresolved. It would not address overcrowding, eliminate reliance on modular classrooms, improve the delivery of educational, or provide the modern instructional and support spaces identified during the Feasibility Study.

It is also important to understand what type of projects the MSBA will participate in for reimbursement. The MSBA may participate in a code upgrade project with reimbursement only if it meets the educational requirements and long-term planning goals developed through the Feasibility Study. A basic repair project that only addresses building systems, but does not address or support the educational program, would not provide the same value to the Town or students, nor would it receive MSBA reimbursement.

The preferred new Grades 4–6 school option was selected because it offers a more comprehensive, long-term solution to the Town. It addresses building systems, educational programming, overcrowding, accessibility, safety, sustainability, and district-wide facility needs. In addition, eligible project costs and reimbursement from the MSBA, based on the preferred option, will reduce the overall Project cost, thereby reducing the Town’s share of the overall project cost.

During Schematic Design, the project team will further develop the preferred option, update the cost estimate, and work with the MSBA to determine eligible project costs and anticipated reimbursement. This will establish the total project budget, estimated MSBA grant, and the Town’s anticipated share of the cost.

The project cost and estimated tax impact will be known later in the MSBA process, after the project advances through Schematic Design. During Schematic Design, the project team will develop the preferred option in greater detail, update the construction cost estimate, and work with the Massachusetts School Building Authority to determine the eligible project costs and anticipated MSBA reimbursement. This process will establish the total project budget, the estimated MSBA grant, and the Town’s anticipated share of the project cost.

The estimated tax impact will be prepared once the project budget, reimbursement amount, borrowing assumptions, and financing schedule are better defined. Based on the current project schedule, this information is expected to be available before the Town is asked to vote on the project. Any cost information shared during the feasibility study phase should be considered preliminary and for planning purposes only. The final project budget and estimated tax impact will be shared with the community before local funding votes occur.

No. The Town has only committed funding for the Feasibility Study phase. Residents will have the final say before the project can move forward into construction. A final project cost, estimated tax impact, and debt service schedule will be developed during the Schematic Design phase and shared with the community later in the process. No property tax increase related to construction would occur unless the project is approved by voters at both a Special Town Meeting in January 2027 and a town-wide ballot referendum in February 2027.

The Town’s current MSBA base reimbursement rate is 52.26%. The final reimbursement rate will be determined later this year, in collaboration with the MSBA, after the project advances through Schematic Design and the total project budget is further developed. At this time, the project is expected to receive incentive points, including 4.0 points for sustainability and 1.75 points for maintenance, for an anticipated reimbursement rate of approximately 58.01%.

It is important to understand that this percentage is not applied to the total project cost. The MSBA reimbursement rate applies only to eligible project costs as determined by the MSBA. Not all project costs are eligible for reimbursement. In addition, many eligible costs are subject to MSBA guidelines, limits, or caps, including limits on eligible square footage, building and site construction costs per square foot, and other project-related expenses.

As a result, the Town should not expect to receive 58.01% of the total project cost. The actual reimbursement amount will be based on the MSBA’s review of eligible costs and applicable reimbursement limits. As the project moves into Schematic Design and project costs are further refined, the project team, in conjunction with the MSBA, will determine the anticipated MSBA reimbursement amount. This information will help the Town prepare tax impact and debt service projections, which will be shared with the community at a future date, including a tax impact calculator.

The project has currently completed its feasibility study phase, which involves a detailed analysis of potential solutions in close collaboration with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). The MSBA recently approved the District’s preferred solution, and the project has since moved into its schematic design phase. This phase is anticipated to be complete by October 2026 and submitted to the MSBA for review and approval. The MSBA is anticipated to vote on and approve the proposed project in December 2026. Once approved by the MSBA, the project is anticipated to be voted on at a special Town Meeting in January 2027, with a town-wide ballot measure in February 2027.

Once all local project approvals are obtained in early 2027, the project will proceed to design completion, with construction commencing in the spring of 2028. Building construction is anticipated to take roughly 36 months, and the building is expected to be occupied at the start of the 2031-2032 school calendar year. Once the new school is occupied, demolition of the existing school will commence, along with site restoration and fieldwork, which are anticipated to be completed the following year. To see a graphic of the conceptual schedule, please click here.

The School Building Committee is committed to an open, inclusive, and transparent process. As the project moves forward, the community will continue to have opportunities to learn about the project, ask questions, and provide input through public forums and School Building Committee meetings.

The project website is the best place to stay informed. It includes project updates, meeting agendas, minutes, presentations, relevant news, and other project-related information. The website will be updated regularly as new information becomes available.

Residents are encouraged to attend public meetings, review posted materials, and visit the project website regularly for the latest updates.