Future of Millville Elementary: Heated Debate & Reversal at BMR Meeting
Millville Elementary’s Future: School Committee Reconsiders, Community Speaks Out
The future of Millville Elementary School (MES) took another turn on May 22nd, as the Blackstone-Millville Regional (BMR) School Committee met to reconsider its recent unanimous vote to keep students out of MES for the 2025-2026 school year. This follow-up meeting, attended by concerned residents and marked by passionate debate, ultimately saw the committee rescind its previous decision, though the path forward for MES remains unclear.
The push for reconsideration came directly from the Millville Board of Selectmen (BOS), emphasizing the potential for an $850,000 “clawback” from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) if MES remains unoccupied. Millville Board of Selectman (BOS) Chair Richard Bremlist highlighted this significant financial risk, urging the School Committee to unify and make a decision that prioritizes the children and leverages the town’s newly secured million-dollar grant for water treatment.
Why the Change? Millville Speaks Up
The Millville Board of Selectmen (BOS) pushed for this reconsideration. They warned about a big financial penalty – up to $850,000 – from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). This could happen if MES stays empty.
The Millville BOS Chair stressed this risk. He urged the School Committee to work together. The goal? To put kids first and use the town’s new million-dollar water grant.
Millville Selectwoman Rachel Anderson strongly defended MES. She addressed water quality worries, saying it’ll take 2 liters a day for 70 years before anything could happen. Millville will continue to provide bottled water, she confirmed. She also questioned parents worrying about kids filling bottles in bathrooms. “Who teaches their children to fill their water bottle in the bathroom?” she asked.
Anderson also raised concerns about the discussions on moving pre-K students to the high school. She pointed out asbestos and mold issues there. “It only takes one particle of asbestos to develop asbestosis,” she said, warning against putting young children in that building.
Water Experts Weigh In
Adding a crucial expert perspective, Blackstone resident Jake Standley, Deputy Water and Sewer Superintendent for the Town of Franklin, spoke to the committee. With over 12 years in the public drinking water sector, Standley unequivocally stated that the MassDEP has provided written and verbal consent for the school’s re-occupancy, underscoring DEP’s strict safety protocols. He stressed that having children in the school is essential for properly flowing the system, collecting accurate data, and effectively utilizing the million-dollar grant to treat the water. “You cannot mirror hundreds of students and staff in a building by having a single person turn on a few faucets every day,” Standley asserted, adding that as a parent, he has “ZERO concerns for my kid’s health when it comes to the drinking water in that school.“
Another Millville resident, Cole Young, agreed. He believes the water isn’t the real problem. He wondered if other issues, like a new high school project or even “personal vendetta,” were at play.
Strong Words: De-Regionalization Threat
The Millville BOS Chair Richard Bremlist then delivered a serious warning. If the School Committee didn’t reconsider, Millville would start planning to leave the district starting 9AM the next morning. This unanimous decision was made by the Millville BOS on May 19th at an executive session.
This threat caused an immediate stir. School Committee member Erin Vinacco called it a “threat.” The Millville BOS Chair replied, “well there’s no threat, that’s a promise.”
Blackstone School Committee Chair Dan Keefe pushed back. He said leaving the district wasn’t realistic. He argued it would only hurt Millville residents. This showed how tense the meeting became.
Looking Back and Moving Forward
School Committee Chair Dan Keefe explained the history of the MES move. In past years, Millville challenged water ownership. They didn’t want to pay for bottled water. Their water operator even resigned. “We didn’t have enough information to keep those kids there,” Keefe said about the past decision.
But now, things are different. Millville has McClure Engineering, a stable water operator. Town of Millville guarantees providing bottled water, and MassDEP has requested it. Plus, there’s the big million-dollar grant. Keefe also reiterated we are being watched by massDEP and shared that MassDEP is “surprised” by the School Committee’s earlier decision.
However, the practical implications of a potential move back to MES weighed heavily on the minds of school staff. A staff member at MES expressed significant concerns about the logistical challenges of packing and moving classrooms with only 17 days left in the school year. She highlighted the repeated disruptions for students and staff, emphasizing the need for a clear plan and adequate time. “The movement is just really difficult for the staff and the kids. It’s really just unfair to move without everything being set and ready to go,” she stated, noting the space constraints within MES itself.
Resident Wendy Greenstein, also a long time educator herself, echoed these concerns, emphasizing that the School Committee, as “experts in education,” should prioritize the well-being of staff and students. She found it concerning that a decision with such a massive impact was being discussed during “Math Night,” preventing teachers and staff from attending and voicing their perspectives.
The Vote to Rescind and Remaining Concerns
Ultimately, School Committee member Jane Regio made a motion to rescind the May 13th vote. After nearly two hours of intense discussion, the motion passed with a 5-3 vote, effectively reversing the previous decision.
However, the vote to rescind did not bring immediate clarity or a concrete plan. Superintendent Jason DeFalco clarified that the MSBA representatives, while senior project leaders, do not make the final clawback decision. That rests with their legal team, who will assess if all safety provisions were met.
School Committee member Erin Vinacco, visibly frustrated, left the meeting before the final vote, reiterating her concern that the conversation had shifted from “safety first” to financial considerations. “I can’t believe we’re sitting here saying money first, because that’s never been our direction ever,” she stated. Millville Selectwoman Rachel Anderson countered that financial burden on Millville residents, particularly those on pensions or poverty lines, was indeed a critical factor if there’s a clawback.
The MES topic concluded with School Committee member Matthew Catalano making a new motion for students to return to MES for the 2025-2026 school year, contingent upon the successful installation and operation of the new water treatment system by August 1, 2025. Motion passes with a 5:2 vote. The details of this new motion and its implications for the upcoming school year will undoubtedly be the focus of future discussions.
What’s Next for MES?
- No immediate return: The rescinded vote and the new vote to return students does not mean students will automatically return to MES for the upcoming school year.
- Contingent on water treatment: The new motion ties the return to the successful installation and operation of the new water treatment system.
- Uncertain timeline: The timeline for the new system and water testing remains a key unknown. We are still waiting on paperwork and permits to be approved.
- Teacher and staff concerns: The impact on teachers and staff, who face potential last-minute moves, remains a significant concern.
- Potential for further conflict: The underlying tensions between Millville and Blackstone, and the threat of de-regionalization, linger.
The BMR community now awaits further developments as the School Committee grapples with the complexities of water safety, financial implications, and the well-being of its students and staff. Stay tuned to Small Town Post for continued coverage on this developing story.
