Opinion: A new Old Colony building makes financial sense

I am writing to express my great urgency regarding the future of Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School. 

In the recent ballot measures, the five sending towns combined voted against funding a new school.

While many residents argued against the proposal due to concerns over a temporary raise in taxes, this short-term financial focus overlooks the far more critical problem: the reality of future renovations. The primary concern we must attest to is what happens if we choose to renovate instead of rebuild. 

Our current school facility was constructed in 1975. Forcing renovations on a 50-year-old structure carries a massive risk.

When those renovations start, they have a very high potential of uncovering hidden environmental hazards like asbestos, lead pipes, or toxic mold. Remediating these sudden hazards is incredibly complex, could easily fail safety inspections, and holds the potential to shut the school down entirely, severely disrupting our students' education.

Piecemeal renovations will not save us money; environmental remediation is notoriously expensive, meaning our taxes could raise all the same without the benefit of a modern facility. This is a direct plea for the good of our teachers, students, and staff. Please head to the polls on Saturday, June 20 to vote to fund the new building.

Joshua Major

Lakeville