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Marlborough Hudson An edition of the Community Advocate
Vol. 51 | No. 40 | October 3, 2025
Residents get Once homeless, Johnson now first look at plan raising expectations as principal at for new Richer Hudson’s Farley Elementary elementary By Paul Hopkins Reporter
By Shealagh Sullivan Reporter MARLBOROUGH – Marlborough Public Schools held its first public forum to hear feedback from parents and community members on the ongoing plan to build a new Raymond C. Richer Elementary School. Under the current plan, the new school would enroll 950 students, making it the largest elementary school in the city. The project is projected to cost roughly $170 million. According to the owner’s project manager (OPM) Vertex, the tax impact for a median-priced home would be $219. If all stays on schedule, the school would open in 2029. Through the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), the city would receive a grant to build the new school that would reimburse about 71% of the total costs, according to Vertex Project Manager Christopher Everly. “While you’re going to see some big numbers, ultimately what the cost to taxpayers becomes is the amount of the project [minus] the reimbursement,” Everly said. He added that the plan is about 15 percent complete so far. Originally, the School Committee and the building subcommittee discussed reducing the enrollment at the new school by 80 students and renovating the Francis J. Kane Elementary School. However, the renovation expenses would fall wholly onto the city, with the cost projected to be $70 million. According to interim Superintendent Jayson DeFalco, the cost didn’t measure up with the possible benefits. “It didn’t make sense to go in that direction,” DeFalco said. With a larger enrollment at Richer, DeFalco said some students would be redistricted to the new school to decrease overcrowding Richer | 7
HUDSON – At 8:20 a.m. on a school day, you’ll find Principal Tawanna Johnson greeting 400 elementary school children as they arrive for class — by bus, foot, or bicycle — at Farley Elementary School in Hudson. Johnson started her principalship on July 1, and she’s already looking into the future and setting high expectations for herself and the Farley community, “listening and learning” before drawing any conclusions. “I hope to bring coherence and a systematic, data-driven approach,” Johnson told the Community Advocate. “What are the things that make Farley unique? What are the opportunities for growth, and what are the potential barriers?” “I believe in high expectations for every child, no matter their circumstances,” said
Principal Tawanna Johnson (Photo/Paul Hopkins)
Principal | 19
City Council denies special permit to planned 200,000-square-foot warehouse on Elm Street By Shealagh Sullivan Reporter MARLBOROUGH – The Marlborough City Council voted against allowing a special permit for the operation of a warehouse and distribution facility at 415 Elm Street. Councilors voted 6-4 against the permit. The proposal, submitted by Royal 401 Elm Street LLC, asked to build a 203,500-squarefoot warehouse on the property. According to plans submitted to the city, there would have been 185 parking spaces and 35 loading bays.
Project officials have emphasized that while the warehouse would be a distribution facility, it would not have been an Amazon site. Councilors largely voted against the plan due to concerns over noise and traffic. Under the permit, the facility would be allowed to operate around the clock. According to traffic engineer Scott Thorton, the facility was expected to see about 180 vehicles in and out over the course of 24 hours, leading to 360 additional trips in total. Elm Street | 7