Projected costs for a new high school range from $223 to $427 million, leading some Island officials to question if the project should be downsized in order to make it past the voters.
Projected costs for a new high school range from $223 to $427 million, leading some Island officials to question if the project should be downsized in order to make it past the voters.
The estimates were presented to the high school building committee this week by Tappé Architects, the firm charged with creating the conceptual designs.
Chris Blessen of Tappé Architects told the committee Tuesday that the cost estimates are in line with high school projects his company is designing on the mainland — but with an added cost he called the “Island factor.”
“It’s 30 per cent more money just to build the same school over here,” Mr. Blessen said. “We ran into that at the Tisbury School and it’s a real number. It’s verified and we know it.”
A rebuild, renovation and a mix between the two are all being considered.
A rebuild, renovation and a mix between the two are all being considered.
More than a third of most expenses for the project would be reimbursed through the Massachusetts School Building Authority, as long as the high school continues to meet state requirements in planning the facility.
If approved, that still leaves a nine-figure building cost for the six towns to bear, with even the least expensive option — simply renovating the existing school to codes, with no additions — estimated at $171.6 million for construction alone and up to $223 million for the project as a whole.
The building committee, whose 25 members include officials from all the towns, reviewed 19 different conceptual designs Tappé developed as part of a feasibility study approved by the towns last year.
“A lot of schools and districts don’t get this many options to look at, and that’s probably both a blessing and a curse in some ways... but we really wanted to make sure we were turning over all the rocks on this project,” Mr. Blessen said.
Along with the renovation-only concept, he showed the committee five designs combining renovation with additional construction and 13 for a completely new school.
Estimated costs for the renovation-addition designs ranged between $355 million to $427 million, while replacement-school designs were estimated at $389 million to $410 million.
To continue in the MSBA program, the committee needs to present state officials with at least one from each of the three categories — but that doesn’t shackle the school to any of these early designs.
“This is not to decide on the path forward,” committee chair Dion Alley said.
Mr. Blessen described the current feasibility process as a fact-finding mission to identify all of the data, existing conditions and other factors that would affect a building project at the school.
“It’s not declaring anything about what the [final] project’s going to be,” he said.
Tappé’s conceptual designs included single-level and multi-story buildings, each providing 259,700 square feet of space for a projected student body of 805 Island teenagers.
The current high school is 165,000 square feet, leading committee member and Oak Bluffs town administrator Deborah Potter to question the scale of expansion in the renovation-addition and new-construction designs.
“I find it very interesting that to increase our capacity about 70 to 75 students we have to increase 95,000 square feet,” she said.
“It is ‘want’ space, not ‘need’ space, and it would have been probably more effective if things had been based on need,” Ms. Potter said.
Superintendent of Island schools Richard Smith also expressed concern about the square footage.
“My concern... is our ability to actually afford this building. More important than anything is getting a yes across our six towns to move a project forward,” Mr. Smith said.
However, principal Sara Dingledy said much of the space increase is due to state requirements the school currently isn’t meeting. Bringing the career and technical education (CTE) department up to state codes will demand significant additional square footage for hands-on work, she said.
The school’s small science labs are also far behind current state education standards, Mr. Blessen said.
School building projects — particularly those that take years to complete — are disruptive as well as expensive, he told the committee.
“There’s a cost that’s not financial... and that’s going to show up in duration and student impact,” Mr. Blessen said.
With that in mind, the building committee ruled out the three conceptual designs with construction timelines exceeding three years.
After more than two hours of discussion, the committee agreed to submit the remaining 16 designs to the MSBA, meeting an Oct. 24 deadline to move the project forward. Ms. Potter, Edgartown town administrator James Hagerty and school district treasurer Mark Friedman cast opposing votes.
State officials will next have several weeks to review a detailed binder of the designs and supporting data, before meeting with the MSBA Dec. 11, high school administrator Sam Hart told the Gazette.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hart said, the school building committee will focus on reducing project costs.
“We’re going to be looking at the square footage and seeing if we can tweak and refine some of the project, so we don’t price ourselves out,” he said.
If all goes as scheduled, Mr. Hart said, the committee will have a final design ready for voter approval Island-wide in early 2026.
Editor's note: this article has been updated to reflect that Mr. Hagerty and Mr. Friedman joined Ms. Potter in voting nay.
Comments
They don't need a new high
Charlie Callahan So Boston EdgartownThey don't need a new high school.
Please show financial
Michael EdgartownPlease show financial restraint as we are already having affordability issues on the Island. There are about 16,000 homes on the entire island and this will add about 4,000 dollars to each home to pay for it and will make the island even less affordable. The high school still looks to be in excellent condition and surely can last another ten to twenty years.
Considering how messed up the
Tom Engley West TisburyConsidering how messed up the entire world is I say go for it build it right build it huge spend as much as you want. The idea of a regional school K-12 is long gone after Tisbury broke the bank and every tax payer in Tisbury has to pay 700$ extra for 20 years. To pay off bonds. It’s almost impossible to find a place to live or buy a home. The line in this article ( a lower number to get it past the voter ) says it all here we go again.
The world is not messed up,
Constantly Missing TisburyThe world is not messed up, we're getting older and change is hard to swallow.
The idea of a regional k -12 is not long gone, maybe a generation off but what about Fire Chiefs? Perfect timing Tom. But you're advocating for Tisbury to hurry up and hire a chief.
On island it's not impossible to find a place because if it were these replies in the comment section would say "Mashpee, Oysterville, Hyannis".
We need regionalization and a new formula for paying for the Regional High School .
The CTE program should be
Keep local kids localThe CTE program should be prioritized. Training local kids in the trades ensures a high quality of life here on MV. Licensed tradespeople will be more likely to build and own homes and have a steady income due to the overwhelming need for services. This will ultimately help local kids stay local and take some heat off the housing issues. Since when does the MSBA reimburse for “more than 1/3 of expenses” please fact check that one.
Half a billion dollars after
Mark EdgartownHalf a billion dollars after four years of the worst inflation since the 70s. People are deciding between grocery shopping and filling their gas tank. Try again with something more reasonable.
School Administration
Frederick Rundlet TisburySchool Administration officials speaking at the Tisbury Town Meeting promised a study review of having a Junior High School/Middle School on the same campus. Was this in fact done ? If not, why not? Why is the high school population projected to increase at a time when there is virtually no affordable housing and high living costs for student families?
Middle school is an old and
Sara Piazza EdgartownMiddle school is an old and largely failed concept. Regionalizing the high school (fiercely debated in the 50s - I remember the grown ups fighting over it) was the beginning of Island sprawl and massive traffic issues. A regional middle school will put even more cars on the road. Keep kids local, where some of them can even walk or ride their bikes to school. Please, no more dismantling of our towns.
In ohter parts of the country
Bob Kelly Oak BluffsIn ohter parts of the country, they just keep up old school buildings. I've been to the MV high school and at no time did I think that here's a building that needs to be replaced. I don't think there's going to be widespread support for replacement and there has to be for a project of this scope. I think the island is going to cool off economically post pandemic and that some of the newer pandemic related population that works exectutive jobs from home will diminish so that could also impact enrollment. A plan for renovating by project would probably get support.
I’d be interested to see the
John Aldeborgh KatamaI’d be interested to see the projections for the islands high school population over the next couple of decades. All the data on the numbers of children families are having today shows a steady downward trend. Yes, there was a pandemic related jump in the islands year round population, companies however are now pulling back on allowing people to work from home. This could easily result in families having to move back off island, to where the jobs are.
Bottomline to me, this is a crazy amount of money for a building, which in and of itself, does nothing to improve the educational outcome for our students. Education is a function of the curriculum, the teaching staff and the values parents give their children. Everything else pales by comparison.
I’m sorry but spending $400M on a building would only be a monument to our stupidity.
It would be interesting to
Michael MVRHS 2010It would be interesting to understand in more detail where the current building isn’t up to code. Sounds like labs and workshops but an article just on those factors, and others, would be helpful.
Yikes!!
Ken Rusczyk OBYikes!!
This is outrageous! Yes, the
Peter ObThis is outrageous! Yes, the school could use some TLC so fix it!!!
Don’t be like Tisbury!!! What a waste of money.
At $400 million the state
OB Resident Oak BluffsAt $400 million the state will pick up close to $150 million, and summer residents will end up paying roughly 80 percent of the remainder. That leaves about $50 million that actual islanders will end up paying out of pocket. That's pocket change over the next 20 years.
OB resident, do you not pay
Another OB Resident OBOB resident, do you not pay state taxes?? People think "the feds are paying this or the state is paying some of it. Sounds better, stop falling for this. We all pay local, federal and state taxes. Nothing is free. 100% of the amount of this cost will be paid by all of us. Whether it comes out of your left, right or back pocket. It doesn't matter, does it? And to say "yes, but other Massachusetts or US residents are helping us pay for it... well your just helping them pay for a bike path or school in there town somewhere else etc etc. Its not like 100% of your federal and state taxes are only going to island needs.
The taxpaying class -
Annie CookThe taxpaying class - certainly on the relatively privileged island of Martha's Vineyard - can surely see the value of supporting the hopes and aspirations of the island's young people by helping make their learning environment both more effective in terms of facilities and technology, but also safer (the urgent need for central air conditioning being Exhibit A for school
systems across the country with a warming climate extending the hot season well into the fall). The older generations OWE this and more to the younger ones, having contributed for decades to the fossil-fuel industry's profit-driven deceit on emissions and having voted, over and over again, for enemies of environmental protection thanks to buying the Republican Party's same-old narrative about environmental protection as "big-government overreach." Whatever it costs to get the high school retrofitted, it is an OVERDUE initiative that I hope adult voters realize only sounds "expensive" because it wasn't taken care of sooner; and because we are ALL going to have to pay to try and mitigate the effects of our complicity in deferred action on climate defense thanks to willful ignorance and denial. Investing in our public, or "common," schools - as what Ulysees S. Grant warned would be the primary bastion of an educated "sovereign" people capable of defending the republic from the "superstition" and "ambition" of religious influence on critical thinking - should be deemed one of the key responsibilities of the adult taxpaying population in a nation, and a world, it has largely failed to protect on behalf of its own children and grandchildren. Funding a school project like this is one way to demonstrate ethical awareness and accountability for missed opportunities to honor the welfare and well being of children over the past century in America. This kind of investment shouldn't even be a debate, in this citizen's view.
Annie, no one is arguing your
tom BostonAnnie, no one is arguing your overall point of educating the kids. They are aghast at the obscene cost.
Hypothetically, at $400m over
Phil regan Oak bluffsHypothetically, at $400m over the investment lifespan (40 years before the school again becomes outdated) amounts to $10m per year. The school services about 750 kids per year. So, the investment in a new school amounts to about $13,333.00 per student per year over 40 years (excluding all operating costs). The $13,333 may be considered extreme…I have no comparables. That said, the school provides opportunity/services, to the community, well beyond the students alone. An enhanced facility could take on a much more significant role in adult education, trades programs, performing arts, community forum, etc.
Maybe not all of what has been proposed is necessary when considering a new build, but ignoring the benefits of a new build is premature. The school is in rough shape…housing is not the only reason there is difficulty in attracting great teachers.
Speaking of housing, how about considering a measly 1% line item for teacher housing….$4m could build ten 2/3 bedroom cottages. Probably not allowable due to septic, grant regulations, zoning, MVC, or something else.
Phil, this is a naive
tom BostonPhil, this is a naive financial take on this. This is a capital improvement. Operating costs are very high. You also are not including the debt service costs which will be very significant.
Tom thanks for the obvious…
Phil tegan OBTom thanks for the obvious… maybe not make the assumption I overlooked debt expense. I chose a random “hypothetical” figure of $400m to see what it looked like as a per student cost. As I said, I have no comparables to understand if that is reasonable, or not. What I do know, is the schools seem to need significant updates every twenty year or so… the high school is sixty years old and has gone through two major renovations… time for a third…you would agree if you have spent time in the facility/grounds. I agree with Jay Sonia…an emphasis on trades and labs, and natural light in hallways and classrooms (my own observation) would be a great start.
I teach in a middle class
Elizabeth Quinson Suffern, NY and Oak Bluffs, MAI teach in a middle class suburb northwest of NYC, and our schools are highly rated. As far as I am concerned public schools are a bedrock of a health community. But I must tell you that none of our facilities are as fancy as the schools on the Island. The high school you already have may need some updating, but why replace it all and at a cost of almost half a billion dollars? Are you kidding? Why?
I couldn’t agree more. Maybe
Justine ChilmarkI couldn’t agree more. Maybe it’s the fact that the state picks up part of the tab in Mass making towns feel like they are getting a deal on a new building. It’s a racket for construction companies. We don’t need new schools every 40 years, just build a good shell and take care of it with renovations over time. It’s the teachers and books that make great students, not shinny building and fancy computers. Back to basics folks.
I saw a previous story about
MSI saw a previous story about the school dating back to the 1960s. If thats the case it probably needs replacing. Alot from that era have been...including mine. But I thought that school was built in the 80's?
The current High School
Carla A Cooper EdgartownThe current High School building is a disaster. The HVAC is grossly out of date, there’s mold everywhere and it’s totally inefficient. Anyone who says it’s fine hasn’t spent much time in that building. My daughter graduated 11 years ago. I remember trash barrels in the hallway catching rainwater through the leaking roof. That’s what you get when you settle for cheap, shoddy construction. Do it right this time and it will last for generations.
As a voter I will never vote
William EdgartownAs a voter I will never vote for such an expensive regional high school. $200 to $400+ million dollars is ridiculous and unaffordable. Maybe it is time for Edgartown to consider building its own high school. $50 million for an Edgartown high school seems like a bargain. The regional solution will cost Edgartown much more. No thanks.
Building a high school for
To Build or Not to Build EdgartownBuilding a high school for only Edgartown would not cost anywhere in the neighborhood of 25% of the cost of building one for the entire island. You're still going to have the same labs, vocational classrooms, gymnasium, auditorium, playing fields and the requirements for ADA and classroom size.
An Edgartown only high school would cost in the neighborhood of 75% of what an island wide school would cost, not 25%.
Maybe look into a top end
Jay sonia WEST TISBURYMaybe look into a top end vocational upgrade as well as science labs. Make these areas top of the line. And in say 10 years upgrade classrooms / facility. The investments can be staggered over many years, less disruptions and reflect the changing need of the island, instead of a massive disruptive stab at what may be needed (or not needed) for the future. Planning for future improvements would be a continuous (never ending) long term plan.
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