By Geena Monahan—For the North Star Reporter
With construction on the new high school set to begin in June, officials held a community forum to explain what residents can expect — from summer site work to traffic disruptions and a multi-year construction timeline.
Roughly 50 residents attended the forum, held on Tuesday, April 28. Superintendent John Antonucci emphasized both the scale of the project and the ongoing commitment to transparency.
“Over the past year and a half, we’ve held nine community forums leading up to last June’s historic vote,” Antonucci said. “This is a major investment for our community, and we want to make sure residents have the information they need through every step of the process.”
Groundbreaking will begin June 8, launching a project that will span about three years and reshape the high school campus.
The new high school will serve 1,025 students and span approximately 226,740 square feet on a 72-acre site, according to project architect Rob Fitzgerald of Dore + Whittier.
Designed as an all-electric, geothermal-powered facility, it is expected to be one of the most energy-efficient schools in Massachusetts, said Fitzgerald.
Plans include expanded parking — from 667 to 766 spaces — along with new athletic fields, improved traffic circulation and separate entrances for the high school and middle school. Inside, flexible learning spaces, updated media and library areas, and designated quiet and technology zones are designed to support collaboration.
“This really creates different opportunities for engagement and learning,” Fitzgerald said.
The project carries a total estimated cost of $287.9 million, with about $106.9 million expected in reimbursement from the Massachusetts School Building Authority. Officials said roughly $10.1 million has been spent to date and $3.3 million reimbursed, with construction accounting for the largest share of the budget.
Timeline and phases
Construction will begin this summer with early site work, including fencing, utility preparation and earth moving.
Kyle Raposo of Consigli Construction outlined a phased approach:
- Summer 2026: Site mobilization, fencing and temporary parking to maintain capacity
- Fall 2026–summer 2028: Geothermal system installation, new athletic fields and building construction
- Summer 2028–2029: Move-in, demolition of the existing high school and final site work
Early work will focus on earth moving to prepare the building foundation. Raposo said standard construction noise is expected between 7 a.m. and 3:15 p.m., with no blasting anticipated.
Officials said the existing building will undergo full hazardous materials abatement before demolition, in accordance with state regulations. Dust mitigation will include water trucks and misting systems.
Antonucci noted the project website will serve as a central hub for updates, with weekly reports detailing upcoming work, expected noise levels and changes to traffic or parking. Additional meetings are also planned, including a forum specifically for abutters scheduled for June 18.
“This is just one piece of the communication process,” Antonucci said. “There will be many opportunities for updates over the next three years.”
Students are expected to move into the new building in August 2028, with full project completion anticipated by summer 2029.
“We’re really pleased with where we are today,” Antonucci said. “Planning, budgeting, design and preparation have been thorough. We’re on time and on schedule.”
Impacts to schedules
High School Principal T.J. Rizzo said activities such as summer school, camps and nutrition programs will be relocated to other schools, primarily North Attleborough Middle and Community Elementary schools. North Attleborough’s Kids Day will remain on campus with no disruptions.
Residents can also expect shifting traffic patterns, temporary restrictions and inconsistent parking. Gym access at both the high school and middle school will be “irregular and inconsistent,” Rizzo said.
Despite construction, Athletic Director Nick Schlierf said most programs will continue with minimal disruption. Beaupre Field and the track will remain in use, though lighting may be limited at times. Some teams will use alternate sites, including Community Field, the High Street fields, World War I Park and Kelly Field.
The tennis courts will be paved and used for parking, with matches relocated to courts in nearby communities such as Mansfield and Attleboro.
Traffic and neighborhood concerns
Beginning June 8, walking access from several surrounding neighborhoods will be eliminated as construction fencing is installed. The district plans to provide additional transportation for affected students.
Construction vehicles will initially use the existing school entrance, though officials are working to establish a dedicated access road off Landry Avenue to separate construction and school traffic. Truck routes are expected to direct vehicles toward the industrial park area for highway access, though some trips may head toward the High Street soccer fields for soil transport.
Antonucci said the district will communicate directly with impacted families in the coming weeks.
“We want to make sure we leave no question unanswered,” he said. “Things will change, and we’ll have to be resilient.”