Tri-County School Building Hits 50 Percent Complete, Budget Drops to $281 Million

NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH — June 17, 2026 — Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical School Committee hears $281 million building is halfway done, approves adult education policy updates. Owner's Project Manager Trip Elmore of Doran Whittier told the committee June 17 that the new school building is 50 percent complete by cost and construction progress, with the exterior nearly enclosed, windows being installed, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems being run throughout the structure; the building is targeted for handover on July 14, 2027, with full site completion in September 2028. The total project budget fell from $285,992,692 to approximately $281 million after competitive bids came in, and the owner's contingency fund was increased to $14.5 million. The committee unanimously approved updates to the adult education general admissions policy — including more flexible residency verification — and to the student handbook, both revised to reflect the addition of a massage therapy program. Superintendent Karen Wontrobski reported 275 ninth-grade students have accepted enrollment for fall, with 134 on the waiting list, and said fiscal year 2027 budget assessments were approved by all member communities with no known no votes; warrants signed since the last meeting totaled $4,849,624.