North Reading School Committee pulls back from $2 million MSBA feasibility study for Hood School

NORTH READING — March 23, 2026 — North Reading School Committee signals retreat from MSBA building program for Hood School, leaning toward modular replacement. The committee spent more than an hour at its March 23 meeting weighing a roughly $2 million MSBA feasibility study against an estimated $4.5 million to $5 million in-kind modular replacement for the J. Turner Hood School, with Chair Jeff Doherty and member Tim Fitman both arguing the feasibility cost is disproportionate for a six-classroom project. Doherty said he does not feel comfortable committing to the study "given the narrow window of what we think might be acceptable to move forward with a project." The committee plans to gather updated modular quotes and present a direction at the June Town Meeting; no MSBA warrant article will appear on the spring warrant. Separately, the committee approved eight donations totaling more than $16,000 for school field trips, athletics, and a Little School theater trip, all on 4-0 votes. Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School Superintendent Dave DeBerry reported the new 400,000-square-foot building is on pace for a September opening and that North Reading is on track for its highest-ever vocational enrollment, with 34 freshman applicants for 19 guaranteed seats.