Milton town and school officials are exploring the potential purchase of the Labouré College campus, a private nursing school set to close this summer, with the intention of converting the site into an early education center for prekindergarten and kindergarten students. The move reflects Milton’s growing student population and the district’s need for additional classroom space.

Labouré College, a 134-year-old Catholic institution, is closing amid declining enrollment and financial difficulties. Its nursing programs are planned to be absorbed by nearby Curry College. The college campus, previously Aquinas College before Labouré purchased it in 2012, consists of three buildings that include classroom and office space. Officials have suggested renovating a single building for educational use to avoid extensive and costly energy code upgrades that would affect the other two structures.

The Milton School Committee voted earlier this month to explore design options for an early education center that could accommodate the district’s youngest students. The aim is to prepare for a potential bid on the property when it is placed on the market in August. If the school committee expresses interest in acquiring the campus, the town’s Select Board would need to approve the purchase by early August to include the financing on the November town ballot.

With the district’s student enrollment rising by approximately 200 students over the past decade—contrasting with a statewide decline that recently hit a 30-year low—Milton is facing space constraints and is actively pursuing multiple strategies to expand school capacity. Alongside the Labouré purchase consideration, the town continues to seek state funds to construct a new elementary or middle school, with a project currently in the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) pipeline since December 2024.

Purchasing and renovating the Labouré campus without state funding would place more financial burden on the town, as the MSBA typically reimburses about 28 percent of eligible costs for approved projects. However, pursuing the property independently could enable a faster timeline compared to the often lengthy process of state-backed construction. School Building Committee Chairman Sean O’Rourke emphasized the need to balance the benefits of the acquisition against potential costs and logistical challenges. He noted that much of the renovation design work will depend on funding authorization and that the district is proceeding cautiously.

Interim Superintendent John Phelan highlighted the possible advantages of establishing an early education center on the Labouré property, including freeing space at existing elementary schools and reducing operational expenses. He added that if the plan does not prove feasible, the campus could still serve as a valuable town asset.

Milton’s consideration of the Labouré campus purchase comes amid regional discussions about repurposing closed educational institutions. For instance, the nearby Quincy City Council recently rejected a bid by Mayor Thomas Koch to acquire the former Eastern Nazarene College campus, citing concerns about the city’s existing debt.

As Milton moves forward, the School Building Committee recently voted to hire contractors to assess renovation costs and design possibilities, although final details remain limited prior to a purchase decision. The town plans to continue pursuing state funding opportunities while evaluating the Labouré campus as a potential solution to its evolving educational space needs.