The 21-member School Facilities Task Force is scheduled to reconvene Monday to discuss how it fits into the process of designing a new high school.
The task force was formed by Town Meeting in 2004 to study high school facility problems that prompted the New England Association of Schools and Colleges to threaten to revoke the school's accreditation.
After two years of study, the task force recommended the town build a new school and helped get a $6 million debt exclusion passed in April 2006 to pay for designs.
That process came to a halt when the newly formed Massachusetts School Building Authority came into existence and released its regulations for state reimbursement. The regulations stipulated that towns seeking state money would have to collaborate on feasibility studies and designs of new or renovated schools.
The building authority regulations also formed a so-called "working group" of town officials to act as the town's advisers on the project.
"One of the things we need to discuss is how the (task force) is going to work with the new working group as well as discuss the composition of that group," Selectman Tom McQuaid said.
He said he also wants to bring the task force up to speed on the latest developments in the project, including the possibility the town will stop designing an entirely facility and copy the design of a recently constructed school.
The authority last week asked the town to participate in a new, Model Schools Program rather than design a school from scratch.
Selectmen Tuesday approved a letter asking for more information, and indicating the town is willing to discuss the idea.
"Basically, it just says we have interest, but we have some questions and concerns than need to be addressed before we can endorse the concept fully," said Chairman Mike Lyons.
The next step will be for town officials to meet with the building authority, he said.
McQuaid said the task force needs to talk about the new program. "We will discuss how much we are willing to embrace the program," he said.
The task force is scheduled to meet Monday, 7 p.m. at the police and fire station's Community Room.
Brian Falla can be reached at 781-433-8339 or bfalla@cnc.com.
