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 — Voters in Rochester, Mattapoisett, Lakeville, Acushnet and Carver will once again be asked to approve a plan to rebuild Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School that was rejected in a November vote.
At a Wednesday, Jan. 28 meeting the Old Colony School Committee unanimously approved a revote on the proposed $288 million project.
The current, aging building is in need of repairs and infrastructural updates. It also does not meet state space requirements and lacks accessible bathrooms. These changes would be costly — it would take about $134 million to make all of the needed repairs.
The school received a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority to cover $129 million of the building project, leaving member towns collectively responsible for the remaining $159 million.
The school committee weighed these options, along with a third option to complete priority repairs every three years, at its meeting before deciding constructing a new building is the most fiscally responsible step forward.
Superintendent Aaron Polansky said any decision will bear a hefty price tag, and rejecting the construction of a new building doesn't mean the problems the current building has will go away.
“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.”
If the building project is approved in the revote, Lakeville is estimated to pay $39.5 million. When Lakeville voters went to the polls in November, they were also asked to approve a debt exclusion authorizing the town to temporarily increase taxes to fund the Old Colony replacement.
In past Select Board meetings, Town Administrator Andrew Sukeforth has indicated the town will likely ask voters to again approve a debt exclusion if the project moves forward.
The school committee will schedule a revote after submitting their decision to the Massachusetts School Building Association.
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 because of how well they prepare students for college and careers.
“I think that opportunity is great. I think that it's necessary and in fact needs to be supported,” Foster said. “It's been 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.
