Town of Maynard, Maynard Public Schools Break Ground on Green Meadow School Building Project

MAYNARD — Local and state officials broke ground this morning at the site of the new Green Meadow Elementary School.

Superintendent Brian Haas greeted the crowd at the ceremony. The groundbreaking is the latest step in a process that began in 2019.

“It is my great pleasure to welcome you all here today to the groundbreaking ceremony of our new Green Meadow Elementary School. This is more than just a building; it is a place where dreams are chased, friendships are formed and futures will take shape,” he said. “I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to members of our School Committee, Town officials, educators, families and community members, who all helped make this possible. I cannot wait to see the future that rises from this ground.”

The ceremony featured several speakers, including Green Meadow Elementary School Building Committee member Nick Kane, Chief Executive Officer of the Massachusetts Building Authority (MSBA) James MacDonald, State Sen. Jamie Eldridge, State Rep. Kate Hogan, Chairperson of the Maynard Public Schools School Committee Natasha Rivera, and Chairperson of the Maynard Select Board Jeff Swanberg. 

The original Green Meadow School was built in 1955 and has undergone numerous renovations and additions. An old wing of Green Meadow School was closed in 2019 when asbestos and mold were discovered. The project to build a new school was approved in the fall of 2020, and the first official Building Committee meeting was held in early 2021.

After more than four years of planning, the groundbreaking ceremony marks the start of new beginnings for Green Meadow School.

“What a great morning. Spring is here, and life is coming back to our Town. Today, we break ground,” said Rep. Hogan. “It is so important that we educate our children for the 21st century. It’s going to be hard. A school that fosters creativity and innovation will make our society better. New schools are places of hope and opportunity, and we know that tomorrow will be better for it.”

The new school will meet Maynard Public School’s education goals of providing a comprehensive 21st-century learning environment for its Pre-K through Grade 3 students. The school will feature:

• Technology infrastructure and sinks throughout all the classrooms to facilitate project-based learning and Science.
• A dedicated STEAM room for project-based learning, centrally located for ease of use by all classes.
• Flexible furniture will be provided in each classroom to allow for different learning styles and activities.
• A cafetorium and separate gymnasium, both sized appropriately to serve elementary school and community functions.
• Outdoor play areas to provide much-needed outdoor time for students.

Besides meeting the needs of the District, the new Green Meadow Elementary School will also meet the Town’s sustainability goals by using renewable energy to the level of almost being a net-zero facility, featuring a geothermal HVAC system, and being an all-electric building with total decarbonization.

“I know there was quite a robust process to decide how this school would look, and the green features that it would have,” said Sen. Eldridge. “This new school sends a message to current and future students that we need to think about sustainability and our future, and to those who work here that we care and appreciate their work. Congratulations to all the stakeholders involved.”

Select Board Chairperson Swanberg closed the ceremony with a similar sentiment: “It takes a village for something like this to happen. When we think about the students who will graduate from this school and go out into the world over the next 30, 40, and 50 years, we want them to have a world where they can flourish. A school is an investment and a huge transformative approach into the future we want to see for our children.”

The project is expected to be completed in winter of the 2026-27 school year.