GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — After years of debate and stalled attempts, a new chapter is opening for Monument Mountain Regional High School. The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) has officially approved the project scope and budget for a new high school in the Berkshire Hills Regional School District, setting the stage for a pivotal districtwide vote on Nov. 4.

The plan calls for a 146,100-square-foot, three-story facility designed to serve 485 students in grades 9–12. The estimated project cost is $152 million, with the state expected to reimburse up to $61 million. The district’s local share is projected at $89 million, with an additional $1.6 million in energy efficiency incentives through MassSave.

Superintendent Peter Dillon emphasized the project’s alignment with local values. “The design really is responsive to the community's needs,” Dillon told the School Committee. “We’re a small but fierce district that does some really wonderful work, and the design really takes advantage of our landscape and our environment."

The proposed building will be constructed in front of the existing 1968 high school, which will remain open during the build. Once the new facility is complete, the old structure will be demolished, making room for new athletic fields and additional parking. If approved, construction is scheduled to begin in January 2027 with a targeted completion in 2029.

The district now has 120 days to secure approval from the three member towns—Great Barrington, Stockbridge, and West Stockbridge. In a move designed to streamline the decision, the School Building Committee decided votes will be tallied collectively across the district, rather than on a town-by-town basis.

Community members will have the chance to review the design and learn about the financial and tax implications at a Sept. 16 community meeting, which will include a presentation and tour.

This milestone comes after more than a decade of failed attempts to replace or renovate the outdated building. Earlier efforts were rejected by voters in Great Barrington over cost concerns. A separate proposal to merge the Berkshire Hills district with the neighboring Southern Berkshire Regional School District also failed in 2023, when a majority of towns voted against it.

If the Nov. 4 vote passes, the district will enter into a Project Funding Agreement with MSBA, which will detail reimbursement terms and transition the project into the detailed design phase.

The push for a new high school has sparked community organizing as well. A new citizens’ group has launched a social media campaign advocating for a “yes” vote, highlighting the importance of investing in modern facilities for students and future generations.

With state support, local momentum, and a clear timeline, the long-delayed vision of a new Monument Mountain Regional High School now depends on whether residents across the three towns are willing to approve the local funding this fall.

Originally reported by Talia Lissauer in The Berkshire Eagle.