At its December 17 meeting, the final meeting of the current School Committee, the Taunton School Committee voted unanimously to relocate John F. Parker Middle School to the 2 Hamilton Street property. This decision follows several years of planning and community input focused on addressing enrollment growth, building capacity, and creating learning environments that best support students across the district.
When Parker Middle School relocates, the space it currently occupies will be used by Taunton High School. The specific use of that space will be determined by Taunton High School administration to ensure it best meets the needs of students, including instructional and programmatic needs.
Over the past year, the district has taken a comprehensive look at how the 2 Hamilton Street building could best serve students and the broader school community. This work included building assessments, enrollment and financial reviews, staff and family conversations, community meetings, and a districtwide survey. Throughout this process, feedback consistently emphasized the importance of student-centered, safe, and developmentally appropriate learning spaces.
At the same time, meaningful work has already been completed to improve the 2 Hamilton Street facility. Recent upgrades include a new roof, heating and cooling improvements, updated boilers, elevator replacement, classroom updates, and accessibility and parking improvements. Additional safety and accessibility work is underway or planned, including sprinkler installation, fire alarm upgrades, ADA improvements, and updates to shared spaces.
In October, the district also received encouraging news. The City of Taunton was accepted into the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s Accelerated Repair Program for 2 Hamilton Street. Through this program, all doors and windows at the building will be replaced to improve safety, security, and energy efficiency, with significant reimbursement from the state.
While MSBA participation is a tremendous financial benefit, it can also affect project timelines. The scope of work required and the MSBA’s internal review, bidding, and approval processes may extend renovation and construction schedules. The district is currently in the process of scheduling meetings with the MSBA to review next steps and align timelines. An updated project timeline will be shared after Winter Break.
What this means right now
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Parker Middle School will remain in its current location for the time being.
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There are no immediate changes for students, families, or staff across the district.
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Planning will continue around building readiness, timelines, transportation, staffing, and transition planning.
Based on current information, building work is expected to continue through the 2025–26 school year. The district is actively reviewing whether opening the building for students in Fall 2026 is feasible, recognizing that MSBA timelines and the scope of work may influence the final schedule.
To keep the community informed, Taunton Public Schools will launch a dedicated project page on the district website and will share ongoing updates through an open ParentSquare Community Group. These tools will provide a central place for updates, timelines, and opportunities to stay engaged. These resources will be available afte the winter break.
We understand that large-scale facilities projects can raise questions. Our focus remains on thoughtful planning, clear communication, and supporting students and staff throughout this process. We appreciate the continued partnership of our families, staff, and community as this work moves ahead.