When it comes to deciding whether to finance a multi-million dollar new school project, Tisbury selectmen are leaving it up to the town.
When it comes to deciding whether to finance a multi-million dollar new school project, Tisbury selectmen are leaving it up to the town.
At their meeting Tuesday night, selectmen declined to add their explicit support or sponsorship to the proposed project.
The town will vote whether to fund the new school at the annual town meeting on April 10. A two thirds majority at town meeting and a simple majority of ballot votes is required for the project to go forward.
The warrant article does not need formal sponsorship or support from selectmen to be considered, but the item was included on the selectmen’s agenda Tuesday evening at the request of chairman Larry Gomez.
“The board of selectmen has not yet made a decision or approval or disapproval of the new school,” he said. “I thought we needed to do that to show the town what our thoughts are at town meeting so they know where we all stand.”
He added that he thought the board should sponsor the warrant article. The article is already jointly sponsored by the Tisbury school building committee and the Tisbury school committee.
Selectman Tristan Israel said he does not support the project.
“I would just as soon take no action. Let the school committee present as planned to town meeting,” he said. He later added, “This [proposed project] is going to put an enormous strain on the town, number one. And number two, there are many working people here — including teachers — who can’t find housing here.”
He said the tax increase that would come with the project would make the town less affordable. A property valued at $500,000 would see an annual tax increase of about $541.
Construction of the new school is expected to cost almost $46.6 million and has an estimated completion date of August 2021. Last month, the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) officially approved the project, which means the state will cover about 44 per cent of construction costs if the item passes at town meeting. That leaves the town responsible for about $32 million.
The school building committee has worked with the MSBA since 2015. In order to qualify for MSBA funding, the school plan has had to adhere to specific standards. For example, the MSBA requires that classrooms be at least 900 square feet. Though the new school is designed for 285 students, the proposed building would be much larger than the current one. Enrollment was at 307 as of October of last year.
“I’ve been ambivalent about the process from the beginning because it forces the town eventually to just present one option, and we’ve been stuck with that process,” said selectman Melinda Loberg, who serves on the school building committee. “I think we ought to step back and let the town make a decision,” she said. She added that she thought it would be appropriate for the school committee to sponsor the article at town meeting.
Though selectmen decided not to formally endorse the project Tuesday night, they have voted to approve other milestones throughout the process with the MSBA. They have also approved the town meeting warrant including the school building proposal.
Tisbury school principal John Custer attended the meeting and spoke up.
“At several points through the process in partnering with the MSBA, selectmen did vote to continue the process,” he said. “We’ve chosen this process, and the selectmen have been supportive of that.”
Seeing a lack of enthusiasm from his fellow selectmen, Mr. Gomez ultimately did not make a motion to sponsor the warrant article.
“I trust the town people to know what they want,” Ms. Loberg said.
In other business, selectmen discussed the search process for the new police chief. Chief Dan Hanavan has announced he will retire some time this year. Selectmen reviewed a proposal from the Strategic Policy Partnership LLC, headed by West Tisbury resident Robert Wasserman that suggests transitioning to temporary leadership before finding a permanent chief. Services would include drafting a job description, organizing community focus groups, and searching for candidates. In the proposal, the firm estimates their services would cost the town $7,760 including travel fees.
Selectmen also reviewed a draft letter from town administrator Jay Grande to Gov. Charlie Baker and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation regarding proposed improvements to the Beach Road corridor.
“It really is getting at a general frustration with the board with certain aspects of the project that still remain in question, particularly stormwater management or runoff... and concern that the plan is not truly addressing sea level,” Mr. Grande told the board.
Selectmen also appointed Charlie Duquette as a special police officer.
Comments
As a parent, homeowner and
Christine VHAs a parent, homeowner and Tisbury tax payer I will not not support this new school building. 46.6 Million?? We all know the High School is not far behind in a similar request from the tax payers......
Same Here --- I'm middle
Very Annoyed Vineyard HavenSame Here --- I'm middle working class and cannot afford any more taxes. Prior Tisbury Selectmen have had a poor infrastructure plan. I remember when Walter Renear put together a master plan for this town. This town's survival depends on clear thinking Selectmen and leave the personal agendas home, such as, Santander roof --
The amount owed by the town
Cb VHThe amount owed by the town would be $32 million, not $46 million — the state would give us $14 million. It’s never going to be cheaper than this to do.
The additional monthly cost based on a $500k property is about $45/month and the yearly cost to repay the bond will only decrease due to how the loan is structured. Plus, other bonds will be rolling off the town books as well which will help some. It’s not painless for sure, but it’s needed and we will only pay more in the future.
$45 per month equals $540 per
Very Annoyed Vineyard Haven$45 per month equals $540 per year which doesn't include the other spending articles at Town Meeting. This school debt cost of $540 yearly to each taxpayer for how years??? And compound that with rising expenses, NO NO NO!!!
Actually, the cost to the
Tisbury Voter 2Actually, the cost to the town will be closer to $45 million.
Way to make your mind up
Why Not Martha's VineyardWay to make your mind up prior to the discussion the Selectman talk about that should occur at town meeting. I wish I lived in Vineyard Haven again so I could cancel your vote out.
The reimbursement is actually
Tisbury Voter TisburyThe reimbursement is actually around 30%, since the MSBA does not reimburse all the expenses involved in the project. We also have to pay interest on the borrowing, which is another $13.5 million or so. In the end we still pay the full price, the MSBA portion just removes the cost of borrowing. The consultants for the project have also projected another $207,000 increase every year going forward to the annual school budget to cover extra staff and energy use by the a 25% larger building. The sad reality to all of this wasted time, effort, and money is that their could of been a beautiful restoration of the building with some minor additions, for a lot less money, and the preservation of an historical building, which not for nothing, has housed and schooled our students at a high level for almost a century. Some will say that we are building for a new paradigm in teaching, which may or may not be the case, I would expect in the last hundred years this building has been functioning at a high level, the zeitgeist of teaching has gone through many iterations. The curriculum and teaching practices may change with the times, buildings need not to, look at the great institutions of learning in the world. Tisbury has a choice now, tear down what is currently a functioning school, one that has lasted for more years than most of us who will vote on this project, to replace it with an overly expensive, mundane and suburban designed school at will in short years be larger than we need for a dwindling school population. The choice seems obvious here.
Another point concerning
Tisbury Voter 2Another point concerning projected operating costs is that the 21st-century HVAC system, in which all windows are permanently sealed, will require a level of technical maintenance expertise possibly not readily available on the Island. Bear in mind that a number of health issues in sealed buildings have been traced to faulty operations of these sealed systems. So expert maintenance is a high priority.
XXXXX This requirement may affect job security of current maintenance staff. Or, perhaps new staff will have to be added to maintain the new systems.
RE "the state will cover
Tisbury Voter 2RE "the state will cover about 44 per cent of construction costs if the item passes at town meeting. That leaves the town responsible for about $32 million."
$$$$$
The 44 percent figure is misleading in a number of ways. Most basic: The interest on the bond calculated by John Snyder is about $13 million over 20 years, which brings the town's total bill back up to about $45 million. Just in time for the predictable costly repairs, and a new bond.
$$$$$
RE "For example, the MSBA requires that classrooms be at least 900 square feet." Only for the NEW CONSTRUCTION path. Not for the RENOVATION OF EXISTING SCHOOL Option. The MSBA has two paths, new construction or renovation. The Building Committee chose the new construction path.
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The MSBA guidelines, paragraph 2.20.4(b) read:
“(b) The space standards contained in 963 CMR 2.00 and in the MSBA Educational Program Space Standards and Guidelines may not necessarily be applicable to reconstruction, renovation or repair projects. These standards and guidelines were developed by the Authority for determining ***maximum *** size and costs related to new construction and should not be used for assessing safety standards or educational adequacy of existing facilities that were constructed in accordance with the standards and guidelines that prevailed at the time of construction. The Authority shall consider Proposed Projects on a case-by-case basis XXXXX
RE "Though the new school is designed for 285 students, the proposed building would be much larger than the current one. Enrollment was at 307 as of October of last year."
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FYI: The school had 400 "scholars" in 1929, when it first opened its doors. As of December 1938, when the gym was completed, there were 503 pupils (and about 23 teachers and support staff such as school nurse; Tisbury 1938 Annual Report, p. 176).
XXXXX
The firm Haynes & Mason designed the school and the gym. However, construction of the gym was put off for later, when the Town was sure it could afford the cost.
I went to a summer, budget
larry mollin Los AngelesI went to a summer, budget presentation by the school committee of the project. I was dismayed to learn that budget was primarily prepared by the architects of the project rather than a completely independent analysis company. This is never a good way to figure real costs. I also wonder if the non resident homeowners of Tisbury who currently pay about 1/3 more per percentage wise in property tax than year round residents will again be asked to pay more than those with children actually attending school.
As a tax payer I feel the
Christine VHAs a tax payer I feel the town would benefit in letting the non resident homeowners have a vote. Maybe things would actually get done!!!!!
Larry, I think that figure is
Dawn to Dusk TisburyLarry, I think that figure is 20%, not 33.3%. The responsibility for educating children falls on the community as a whole, not just you. If I don't call the police or fireman, should those departments suffer? No, and you will be glad to hear that many of our Tisbury School graduates have gone on to college and productive lives.
This committee, weighted with
Dawn to Dusk TisburyThis committee, weighted with school administrators and staff, has continually frustrated the public attending its' meetings with non-answers to questions that need to be answered. Without those answers it will be a "no" vote. Their decision was based in part on a 2013 report (the Flansburg Report,) that predicted a rise, not a drop, in school student population. School populations are dropping across the island (see individual town websites.) There has been no independent study of the true condition of the existing school. The design is mundane and says nothing about our past. Towns all over the commonwealth have maintained their old classic schools and added tasteful additions. We should, too.
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