Must now pass Dec. 8 special election 

By Theresa Knapp 

The proposed renovation and addition at the current Millis Middle/High School passed at the November Fall Town meeting with a near-unanimous vote.  

That was the first step in a two-step process. 

The first step was passage at the Nov. 10 Special Town Meeting which appropriated the funds for the $125 million renovation/addition (for which the Massachusetts School Building Authority will pay the majority). 

The second step will be a Dec. 8 special election ballot vote where a simple majority is needed to authorize the tax increase for the town’s share of the project. 

The measure must pass both steps for the project to move forward.

The Fall Town Meeting warrant included 14 articles, all of which passed except one related to commercial gas-powered leaf blower noise. The full warrant and results can be found at https://bit.ly/MillisSTMnov2025. 

The meeting was nearly two hours long, with 40 minutes devoted to Article 6 regarding the renovation/addition. 

“Article 6 is not just about construction costs of the renovation/addition of the school, it’s about the investment for the future students, town, and community,” said Jonathan Loer, chair of the Millis Finance Committee which unanimously supported the motion and acknowledged the work that has gone into the project.

“This moment, right now at Town Meeting, is the result of years of hard work. This is not a whim. This is not a rushed idea. This is about the effort it took to get here and understand what is at stake.” 

He continued, “If the town votes ‘yes’ tonight and at the ballot on Dec. 8th, this $68 million is for Millis. If the town votes ‘no,’ we do not get this $68 million grant. We do not get a renovation/addition. We default to the ‘do nothing’ plan which will cost about $75 million over 10 years (or $19 million more than the current option) – and that is if every override repair article is passed over that time span.”   

He concluded, “Why now? At a time when federal funding is decreasing and state aid is tightening, this is a $68 million opportunity for Millis to capture. The renovation/addition option is the best responsible option for Millis. It’s the least disruptive option for students. It’s the least expensive option for taxpayers. And from a capital planning standpoint, it’s the best option for an up-to-date school for the next 50 years.” 

During public comment, the majority of residents who spoke in support of the project identified themselves as parents or teachers. The project was called a “good value,” a “necessity,” and some referred to the current state of the school as “embarrassing.” 

Two spoke in opposition, saying the cost was too high, or the town should pay down its current debt before taking on more. 

Resident Carolyn Gutierrez posed a question to fellow “senior citizens who might be thinking of not voting in favor of this, ‘How many of you would like to have your grandchildren in a substandard school?’” The auditorium responded with a loud round of applause. 

Eric Marthinsen also spoke in favor of the project; he is a member of the Finance Committee but spoke as a resident from Town Meeting floor. “Our school is falling apart…This article isn’t just about buildings, it’s about who we are. Are we a town that settles for closets as offices, that tells our kids they aren’t our top priority, or are we a town that steps up when it matters?” 

After a 30-minute discussion, and a motion to move the question, Article 6 passed with a resounding "aye" and a handful of "nay"s.A full recording of the meeting can be found at https://millismedia.org/videos/fall-town-meeting-11-10-2025. 

After the meeting, School Building Committee Vice Chair Diane Jurmain summarized the vote. 

“We had 683 people attend Town Meeting which is a huge number of people. The auditorium was filled and the overflow went to the gym…I believe people accepted the fact that we could do this project with MSBA funding or we could do it on our own at a much greater cost ($19 million more). ‘Doing nothing’ is not an option. And in the end, saving money and getting a viable building seemed to resonate with the attendees.” 

Jurmain stressed the importance of voting in the Special Election on Dec. 8 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Building, and noted there will also be early voting available. 

Residents can vote early in Room 130 of the Veterans Memorial Building at these times: 

Dec. 1: 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 2: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Dec. 3: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Dec. 4: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

The deadline to request mail-in ballots is Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. For more voting information, contact the Town Clerk’s Office at [email protected] or 508-376-7046.