Construction is officially underway for Madison's newest public school. Town and state officials gathered on April 19 for an official groundbreaking ceremony of the Neck River Elementary School.

According to a press release from Madison Public Schools (MPS), representatives from MPS, the Town of Madison, the Board of Education (BOE), the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Finance, and the new Elementary School Building Committee were joined by State Representative John-Michael Parker (D-101) and State Senator Christine Cohen (D-12) for the ceremony. Representatives from Colliers International, Gilbane, Inc., and Tecton Architects were also on hand.

BOE Chair Seth Klaskin praised Cohen and Parker for their support for the project.

“John-Michael was instrumental in identifying a legislative provision that has extended our expected state reimbursement from about 18% to about 28%. He and Christine shepherded our application through the legislative process and the relevant state agencies to ensure that Madison’s taxpayers will save an additional $6M in bonding for the Schools Renewal Project,” Klaskin said in a press release.

The BOE approved the naming of Neck River Elementary School at a special meeting on Feb. 27, after reviewing a list of three potential names forwarded to the board by the Ad-Hoc New Elementary School Naming Commitee. Those three names, however, had been part of a larger 15-name list presented for public feedback in December 2023. According to a press release from Madison Public Schools (MPS), the committee had received possible names from more than 150 people during a month-long suggestion period.

Residents approved the $61.15 million pre-K-5 elementary school as part of the larger Madison Schools Renewal Plan at a February 2022 referendum. The plan includes the construction of the new school, transforming Brown Intermediate School into a K-5 school, and renovations at Polson Middle School, including its air quality and HVAC systems. Jefferson and Ryerson elementary schools will close at the conclusion of the project, reducing the district's schools to four buildings.

Construction of Neck River Elementary School is scheduled to take 15 months, and officials anticipate the school will open for the start of the 2025-'26 school year.