Chariho United organization makes the case for your support for new elementary school

Unified Elementary Campus Update

Public Hearing on the Land Deal for the New Elementary School: July 7 Charlestown is holding a public hearing on Tuesday, July 7 at 7:00 p.m. at Charlestown Elementary School (in the cafeteria/gymnasium) to discuss a question that will appear on the August 4 referendum ballot. This is separate from the school bond vote in November. It deals specifically with the land and lease arrangements needed to build the new school. Referendum Vote (Charlestown residents only) Tuesday - August 4, 2026 - 8:00am - 8:00pm Charlestown Town Hall Council Chambers

What's actually being decided The town owns the land where the new unified elementary school would be built (the current Charlestown Elementary School site) and also owns Wicklund Field next door. For the school project to move forward, the town needs to formally authorize two things: a ground lease with Chariho Regional School District and a license agreement for Wicklund Field.

Ground Lease with Chariho Regional School District This would let the district demolish the old Charlestown Elementary building and construct, finance, and operate the new elementary school on that same site. The town would still own the land. The district would be leasing it long term to build and run the school there. Proposal Wicklund Field License Agreement This would allow the district to use Wicklund Field, a town owned recreation area, for school purposes. Because Wicklund Field was purchased or improved using federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grants, there are rules about how it can be used. The town would keep ownership, and the field would still have to remain available for public outdoor recreation, in line with those federal requirements.

Why this matters Even if voters approve the school bond in November, the district cannot build the school without the town's permission to use this land. This August referendum question is what gives the town council the legal authority to enter into those lease and license agreements. Without it, the project has nowhere to go. What a "yes" vote means A yes vote authorizes the town council to move forward with the ground lease and the Wicklund Field license, and to pass whatever ordinance is needed to put those agreements into effect. What a "no" vote means A no vote means the town council would not have that authorization, which would stop this piece of the project from moving forward as planned.

View Presentation Chariho United is a non-partisan community group formed to support inclusive, fully funded public schools in Charlestown, Richmond, and Hopkinton. We believe strong schools are the foundation of a strong community, and that every student deserves the resources, opportunities, and support they need to thrive. Subscribe Past Editions