Brockton School Committee Votes 4-3 to Clear Path for Boys and Girls Club at Keith Field

BROCKTON — June 16, 2026 — Brockton School Committee votes 4-3 to clear easement for Boys and Girls Club at historic Keith Field. The committee voted Monday under MGL Chapter 40, Section 15A to relinquish control over an access and utility easement strip at 128 West Elm Street, removing the final school committee obstacle to a Boys and Girls Club of Metro South construction project years in development. School committee counsel Attorney Peter Mello told members the city has confirmed in writing that culvert repair work required by the project will be funded entirely from stormwater enterprise funds at an estimated cost of approximately $3 million. A second vote approving special act language for the state legislature passed 6-1, amended to require the remaining parcel to stay as open space. Patricia Keith, a former Brockton teacher and principal representing the family that donated the field in 1919, urged the committee by Zoom to protect a memorial eagle and plaque and guarantee free public access, saying "this park was entrusted by the family to the city of Brockton and the school committee in perpetuity." Member Christopher Rodriguez, who voted no, warned against repeating prior land transfers to non-taxable entities and said he would contact state ethics and the Attorney General's office for further review. The committee also voted unanimously to transfer $85,000 from contracted psychology services to hire a full-time school psychologist, replacing a contracted arrangement that had cost the district approximately $140,000.