FRAMINGHAM - Members of the Framingham School Building Committee held their first meeting at the Memorial Building on Monday, April 1, as the city continues work on replacing Hemenway Elementary School with a new facility on the city’s south site.

Back in August, local officials reached a $9 million agreement with the Sisters of St. Joseph for a property on Bethany Road. Proponents of developing a new site on the south side such as School Superintendent Dr. Robert Tremblay contend that a lack of space currently at Hemenway and increased school accessibility south of Route 9 should be addressed.

Tremblay believes that the idea of the project is to develop educational resources that benefit all Framingham residents.

“We need a school on the south side, but it doesn’t mean that we’re going to have families that are at the Hemenway neighborhood traveling across the city to go to Bethany,” Tremblay told the School Building Committee on Monday.

“But it does mean we have to re-draw lines so that…you can go to the school that you see near you as opposed to the school that’s across the street, but I [sic] have to get on a bus and take it for an hour ride.”

Tremblay said a goal through the plan would be to utilize the Hemenway building for a future expansion to pre-K and kindergarten classes alongside the south side school.

The School Building Committee was established by Mayor Charlie Sisitsky last fall, as the state required a group to be formed to monitor the process of developing the new site. Framingham was invited to join the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s (MSBA) eligibility period on this effort back in December.

Tremblay said the city previously worked to prepare information on the project’s feasibility in years past, as he along with Chair of the School Building Committee and At-Large City Councilor George King both expressed confidence that the MSBA will accept the local proposal and that state money will be allocated to Framingham for the south side plan.

“I think it’s important to understand: we got past the big step,” King said.

“So as long as we do everything right…as long as we do what we’re supposed to do, they should fund this project given their history. I don’t know of any times people have gotten to this step and not gotten funding.”

King is joined on the School Building Committee by its Vice Chair and District 4 School Committee member Adam Freudberg. School Committee Chair Jessica Barnhill of District 8 is also a part of the School Building Committee, as are City Councilors Tracey Bryant of District 9 and District 5’s Noval Alexander as well as District 2 School Committee member David Gordon.

Erin Asbury, Brittney Karpierz, and Scott Wadland were appointed to the group by the School Committee, while Sisitsky appointed Matteo Batista, Rosyln Child, Rachel Evans, and David Panich.

Approximate timelines were outlined during Monday’s meeting, with the caveat that dates are subject to change.

Essentially, the city’s current target date to open the new school on Framingham’s south side is September of 2029.

From this June through next February, the city must complete a series of applications and other prerequisite steps with the MSBA prior to state approval for a feasibility study and the formation of a project team. Tremblay noted that the “clock starts ticking” on the state’s end, adding that local officials cannot get much of a head start on this project despite their preparations.

The feasibility study is estimated to be finished around April 2026. That study would evaluate conditions, establish project parameters, as well as consider costs and potential alternative plans.

The in-depth design process would wrap up in late 2026, according to Monday’s approximations, while funding for the project would be finalized in early 2027. The project would go up to a vote before the City Council, the MSBA’s board, and local residents.

If the project is approved, the city is projecting close to two and a half years of construction before finally opening the doors to the new school.

Framingham school officials are planning a public information event on the project, with more details to come.