School Committee accepts $25,000 in donations, advances Richer Elementary state filing

MARLBOROUGH -- December 14, 2021, Marlborough schools accept roughly $25,000 in donations and plan spring MSBA filing for Richer Elementary. The School Committee on Dec. 14 voted to accept teacher grants totaling $5,925.85 from the Marlboro Education Foundation, including $2,351.88 for Early Childhood Center geometry light panels and $1,699.99 for a Whitcomb CAD printer. Director of Finance and Operations Doug Dias outlined a timeline for a Statement of Interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority targeting March 1 submission, seeking to replace Richer Elementary's six modular classrooms with at least 12 permanent ones. Superintendent Michael Bergeron reported 398 children ages 5 through 11 have received first doses through district clinics, 16 percent of MPS elementary students, and credited test-and-stay with saving uncountable "student days." Mayor Arthur Vigeant said the city is near 85 percent first-dose coverage but warned COVID is "a stubborn little bugger."