Site work continues with cutting and filling. You will see new piles of fill in front of the Bandstand and a decreasing
profile behind the Bandstand as the contractor contours the site for the new school. Construction trailers are in
place and the site is very busy. If you drive into the VMB parking lot, you will see the amount of activity on the site.
Walking across the playing fields towards the Bandstand, there is orange fencing which protects designated trees
during construction. Those trees will be preserved.
One of the trees, a beautiful old oak tree (pictured below from last fall) to the left of the Bandstand, is a concern. An
arborist has surveyed the tree and while it does have some issues, (gypsy moth infestation, rot in the base and lower
limbs), the Elementary School Building Committee has asked the arborist to take the necessary measures to
preserve the oak tree. Work will begin immediately on the tree. Its health will be re-evaluated once construction is
complete in 2019.
Lastly, Groundbreaking on December the 8th drew a good crowd as well as approximately 500 students from the
Clyde Brown School. The Millis High School Band played, the students sang and speakers addressed the crowd. We
were pleased to have Jack McCarthy, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the MSBA, Representative Shawn Dooley
and staff representatives from Senator Ross and Representative Linsky’s offices address the crowd. A true
celebration of the commitment of the Town of Millis to our students.
