March 8 Special Town Meeting Will Decide On Wildwood Project

WILMINGTON, MA — Wilmington will hold a special town meeting at 7 p.m. on March 8 in the Shriners Auditorium, 99 Fordham Road to vote on funding a feasibility study for a new Wildwood School.

The town was invited into the Massachusetts School Building Authority grant program, which would cover part of the design and construction costs of a new building, the town said. But for the town to stay eligible, the funds for a feasibility study must be appropriated by March 28 — a month before the April 30 annual town meeting.

The town needs to appropriate $1.2 million for the feasibility study. It is the sole article on the warrant for the meeting.

The Finance Committee unanimously approved the appropriation at a Feb. 15 meeting and recommends voters approve the article, it said Monday.

Meeting protocols are available here from the town moderator.

The Wildwood School is the town's oldest school, built 66 years ago, Superintendent Glenn Brand noted in a message to the community.

"While it has served the community well for many years, it is worn, tired and no longer provides the type of educational space appropriate for the students and staff it serves," Brand wrote. "The Town's invitation into the MSBA program provides an opportunity for Wilmington to explore viable options to renovate or replace the Wildwood."

The school district has a website dedicated to the proposed new Wildwood building.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.