Old Colony to ask voters to again consider construction of new building
Aaron Polansky, Nancy Souza and Jolene Costa at a School Committee meeting Wednesday, Jan. 28. Photos by Mari Huglin
All member towns were represented at the meeting.
Members listen into the conversation.
Aaron Polansky, Nancy Souza and Jolene Costa at a School Committee meeting Wednesday, Jan. 28. Photos by Mari Huglin
All member towns were represented at the meeting.
Members listen into the conversation.
ROCHESTER — The Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School School Committee unanimously approved a revote for the same building plan that failed in November.
At a Wednesday, Jan. 28 meeting the committee decided to submit their decision for a revote to the Massachusetts School Building Association on Thursday, Jan. 29.
The committee will reschedule the vote after the association’s response. The vote will be brought back to Old Colony’s five member towns of Lakeville, Rochester, Acushnet, Carver and Mattapoisett.
Before voting, the committee briefly discussed other options.
One update-only option was to make significant repairs once every three years. This would cost about $5 million for the first year, and would begin with priority repairs.
Another option was a $134 million project to bring the existing building up to code all at once.The school would not be fully updated until 2070.
School officials warned that unexpected, and more expensive, repairs are always possible.
“It’s important for people to realize because a ‘no’ vote is not a ‘zero cost’ option,” Polansky said. “A ‘no’ vote is actually a greater cost with a lesser return.”
Another option was to submit a new building project plan, restarting the 6 to 10 year process.
The committee decided a revote would be the most fiscally responsible decision since it will cost $148 million for a new building and $134 million to repair the current one.
Jeffery Rodrigues, of Lakeville, said he was concerned about the current state of the building and how continuous updates to the building will interrupt education.
“My concern is making sure that the student experience is continuous and not interrupted…[students will] never get the full benefit of what this school offers,” Roderigues said.
Donald Foster, of Lakeville, said he wants to protect and support vocational education since he also attended a vocational high school.
“I think that opportunity is great. I think that it's necessary and in fact needs to be supported,” Foster said. “It's been a long thought of as an afterthought for a lot of folks.”
The main concern for residents and committee members is the cost.
“In Lakeville, pocketbooks are a big deal,” Foster said.
