Millville BOS Seeks MES Discussion at Upcoming School Committee Meeting

May 21, 2025

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Millville Elementary School Water Update: What It Means for the Town—and Why Thursday’s Meeting Matters

At the May 19 meeting of the Millville Board of Selectmen, the Board discussed a matter that has weighed heavily on the community for months: the future of Millville Elementary School (MES). At the May 13 School Committee meeting, the Blackstone-Millville Regional (BMR) School Committee voted unanimously NOT to return students to Millville Elementary School (MES) for the 2025–2026 school year. The motion included two key conditions:

Confirmation from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) that Millville will not face a financial penalty—potentially up to $850,000—if the school building remains unused.
At least 180 days of water testing results from the new treatment system before any reconsideration.

During that meeting, several residents voiced support for keeping students out of MES, citing safety of students and staff. No community members spoke in favor of returning students to the building. The only individuals who publicly advocated for reconsidering the decision were Millville officials.

But now, there may be a turning point.

“We need to revisit this.”

Millville’s BOS Chair shared during Monday’s meeting that he had a “pretty candid and open discussion” earlier that day with representatives from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), the agency that helped fund MES’s previous capital improvements, including a new boiler and roof at the Millville Elementary School. The takeaway was serious: if students don’t return to MES, the town could face a clawback of up to $850,000.

Millville’s Board of Selectmen discussed MES during the BOS meeting on May 19, 2025

“They did define that use of the building is for educational purposes. So some configuration it can be mixed use but K through 12 there need to be children in that building that need to be learning… so there is potential for some clawback.”

Millville has taken steps to address the water issues—acknowledging ownership of the water system, providing bottled water, and committing to a treatment solution. But Millville’s BOS Chair expressed frustration that, even with these efforts, the School Committee’s vote added conditions that could add to the delay of reopening the school—specifically, a minimum of 180 days of testing from the new treatment system and confirmation from the MSBA that there would be no financial penalty for leaving MES unused.

“That whole motion is essentially almost like moving the cheese… We’ve met the requirements and it’s time for them (the kids) to go back.”

Financial and Educational Stakes

The MSBA’s position is clear: without students in the building, the town could be penalized. And the Millville BOS made clear where they stand.

“Millville’s priority is putting the school the kids back in that school. And we will withdraw from the regional agreement if this doesn’t… if we don’t come to an agreement.”

That kind of statement—talking openly about withdrawing from the Blackstone-Millville Regional School District—reflects how high the stakes have become.

“Enough’s enough,” said the BOS Chair for Millville. “Our number one priority is to put the children back in.”

“Let’s get back to educating kids, not fighting about water.”

Longtime Millville students’ advocate Gerry Finn captured the moment best, reminding the Board that this is about more than infrastructure or technical language in agreements:

“What the mission really comes down to… the best facilities to educate the kids. That should be everybody’s mission. I don’t care about your politics. I don’t care if you don’t like asparagus. I could care less.”

Finn urged Millville BOS to seize this opportunity for unity and action:

“I think you have a good opportunity here. We just got to make sure keep the rocks out of the snowballs… I don’t believe a clawback would take place if you show good faith. You’ve done more than good faith. And you need good faith from both parties.”

Millville officials hope to present their case to the School Committee during an upcoming meeting. Selectmen emphasized their desire for respectful collaboration, not confrontation.

Jerry Finn commended the Millville Board for taking initiative on a long-standing issue. He noted that for decades (20-30 years), little action had been taken to address the water issue at the Millville Elementary School. He urged the community and school officials to work together to finally resolve the matter and ensure students have access to the best facilities for learning.

Watch the Millville Board of Selectman Meeting on May 19, 2025

What Happens Next: May 22 School Committee Meeting

This Thursday, May 22 at 6PM, the Millville Board of Selectmen is scheduled to appear at the BMR School Committee meeting to discuss the situation directly and potentially prompt a re-vote.

As shared by the Millville BOS Chair, the School Committee Chair has expressed optimism about reconciliation, and both chairs appear aligned on progress. But for a final decision to move forward, all voices must be heard—especially from the public.

As mentioned by the Millville BOS Chair, in a meeting he had with MSBA – they would need a written letter documenting the district’s intended path forward after Thursday’s School Committee meeting. This deliverable would need to reflect input and alignment from both the School Committee and the two towns.

What You Can Do

This moment could define the educational future of Blackstone and Millville’s children and the town’s financial stability.

📍 Attend the BMR School Committee meeting on Thursday, May 22 at 6PM
🎥 If you can’t attend, make sure to watch the meeting online
🗣 Stay informed, speak up, and support your community