School district sets Aug. 14 deadline to resolve Millville Elementary water issues, warns relocation possible
July 10, 2023 | Blackstone-Millville, School Boards, Massachusetts
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The Blackstone‑Millville Regional School Committee heard a detailed update July 10 on chronic water-quality problems at Millville Elementary and was told the district may relocate students if repairs are not sufficiently underway by Aug. 14.
Superintendent Denise said the town of Millville submitted a corrective action plan to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) on June 13, but the district has not received the permit requests required to change disinfectant chemistry from chlorine to permanganate. She also said the town’s water operator raised concerns about stagnant water and beaver activity that were not addressed in the town’s submittal.
“We need to be very clear that if the issues are not addressed by August 14th that we do need to move the children out of Millville Elementary School for next school year,” Denise said, framing the date as a hard decision point if no progress is evident.
Why it matters: district leaders said changing the water chemistry itself takes about four to five days and must be followed by roughly 10 days of testing before the water can be certified safe — a roughly two‑week window that informed the Aug. 14 timeline. The committee also received a lengthy (about 180‑page) report from the town’s water operator, and the district highlighted the operator’s recommendation to remove stagnant water and beaver dams before any chemistry change.
Committee members unanimous in urgency and contingency planning agreed to post a July 27 follow‑up meeting (to follow the school building committee meeting) so staff can report on town progress and present the district’s relocation “plan B” and parent‑notification timeline. Denise said the relocation would be disruptive, especially for youngest students, but called safety the overriding concern.
The committee emphasized limits on its authority: it cannot impose deadlines on the town, but it may decide not to occupy a building it deems unsafe for students. Members discussed logistics including classroom moves, transportation and the potential to temporarily house Millville students in Blackstone if repairs are not completed.
Next steps: the committee will reconvene July 27 to review any permit filings, the town operator’s response and the district’s relocation preparations. The district will decide by Aug. 14 whether Millville Elementary will open for the school year or whether students will be relocated.
Superintendent Denise said the town of Millville submitted a corrective action plan to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) on June 13, but the district has not received the permit requests required to change disinfectant chemistry from chlorine to permanganate. She also said the town’s water operator raised concerns about stagnant water and beaver activity that were not addressed in the town’s submittal.
“We need to be very clear that if the issues are not addressed by August 14th that we do need to move the children out of Millville Elementary School for next school year,” Denise said, framing the date as a hard decision point if no progress is evident.
Why it matters: district leaders said changing the water chemistry itself takes about four to five days and must be followed by roughly 10 days of testing before the water can be certified safe — a roughly two‑week window that informed the Aug. 14 timeline. The committee also received a lengthy (about 180‑page) report from the town’s water operator, and the district highlighted the operator’s recommendation to remove stagnant water and beaver dams before any chemistry change.
Committee members unanimous in urgency and contingency planning agreed to post a July 27 follow‑up meeting (to follow the school building committee meeting) so staff can report on town progress and present the district’s relocation “plan B” and parent‑notification timeline. Denise said the relocation would be disruptive, especially for youngest students, but called safety the overriding concern.
The committee emphasized limits on its authority: it cannot impose deadlines on the town, but it may decide not to occupy a building it deems unsafe for students. Members discussed logistics including classroom moves, transportation and the potential to temporarily house Millville students in Blackstone if repairs are not completed.
Next steps: the committee will reconvene July 27 to review any permit filings, the town operator’s response and the district’s relocation preparations. The district will decide by Aug. 14 whether Millville Elementary will open for the school year or whether students will be relocated.
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