Wilmington School Committee Transfers Three Vacant Properties to Town Control

WILMINGTON -- February 25, 2026, Wilmington School Committee votes to transfer three vacant school buildings to town control and add a full-time ESL teacher. The committee voted unanimously Wednesday to transfer the Roman House at 161 Church Street, a deteriorating historic structure, and the Wilmington Arts Center to the Select Board, and approved 6-1 to transfer the Wildwood Early Childhood Center School, with Member David Turner dissenting over concerns the site could be needed as a contingency if North Intermediate School construction is delayed. On the Roman House, the motion asks the town to include demolition or removal costs in the fiscal year 2027 budget while the school committee retains ownership of the underlying land. The committee also unanimously approved adding a 1.0 English as a Second Language teacher within the current budget, funded by reserve account balances and approximately $45,000 from FY25, after Superintendent Dr. Thompson said a 0.6 position planned for next year was insufficient. Two international student trips for 2027, a reciprocal Italian exchange with the Magerana Georgi School in Genova and a seven-day Portugal trip priced at $4,159, were approved unanimously, and a memorial monument for late coach Steve Scalian was approved in concept pending consultation with the high school principal.