Southwick mulls
project changes
By HOPE E. TREMBLAY
Staff writer
SOUTHWICK – The Select Board is taking a few days to mull over a revised school renovation project before voting whether or not to allow the project to go on the May 8 ballot.
The latest version of the project that encompasses the entire Southwick campus of the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District will cost taxpayers less.
Superintendent Dr. John Barry said the project was changed as much as possible while still meeting Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) guidelines. Barry said if plans were further altered, it would be considered a new project and need re-approval from MSBA.
The revised project, along with reductions in capital borrowing by the school department and town, a lower, more accurate bond interest rate, and an additional $800,000 reimbursement from the MSBA, brings the cost down to $245 from $395 per year for the average property tax payer in Southwick.
“These changes represent a 35-40 percent cost savings to taxpayers,” said Barry.
Only Southwick is considering another vote because Tolland and Granville both approved the debt exclusion in January.
A member of the audience at last night’s Select Board meeting asked if that original vote was legal, and if a second vote would be legal.
Board Chairman Fred Arnold said yes to both questions.
“The Select Board can decide to bring the question to voters if the board feels the project has changed enough,” said Arnold.
If the board gives its stamp of approval, voters would have the opportunity to vote on the revised project during the already scheduled May 8 election, which means this ballot question would not be a special election and would not cost the town additional funds.
Selectman Arthur Pinell said most residents opposed the tax increase, not necessarily the project itself.
“The tax impact was the most severe response we got from the community,” said Pinell.
The total cost of the original project, which includes upgrades, renovations and additions to Woodland Elementary School, Powder Mill Middle School and Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional High School, was $72 million with a 63 percent reimbursement from the MSBA. The cost to the town was $29 million. The revised project cost is $69.1 million, but with less capital borrowing, a lower interest rate and additional reimbursement, Barry said the cost to taxpayers is almost half of the original cost.
Resident Darrell Cass has openly opposed the project and questioned why it was needed when the MSBA gave the district schools high marks for school environment, including nearly perfect ratings for things such as class size.
Barry said he agreed the problem was not class size, but space per student.
“Class size is not the issue,” said Barry, “It’s about the square footage and space per student, which includes things like storage space and meeting rooms.”
Barry added that there is a difference in standards between what the state requires and what people think is needed.
“It’s a hard point for some people to get,” he said.
Cass also said, based on his research and conversations with the MSBA, that districts have never been denied submitting another statement of interest (SOI).
Barry agreed.
“Nobody is denied submitting an SOI, it’s whether or not you’re invited to participate in a reimbursement project,” said Barry. “Right now there is certainty about the grant and the project we have. There is absolute certainty.”
School Committee Chairman James Vincent said he doesn’t think that if the town rejects the project it would go to the top of the MSBA waiting list. Vincent said there are currently 18 new projects being considered and 500 waiting to be reviewed.
“You can put in an SOI but you’ll go to the bottom of the list,” said Vincent.
Barry also addressed concerns about the word repairs in reference to the project. He said the items in the project are beyond repair and in need of building systems replacement.
Cass called it a “pork belly project” and audience members wondered why the replacements could not happen one at a time.
Barry reminded everyone that a small-scale project of $5 million that would address overcrowding at Woodland School was voted down in 2004 because it’s scope was not large enough.
“If that had passed, we would be looking at only two schools today,” said Barry.
Selectman Russ Fox asked several questions and the board agreed to take up a measure to bring the revise project back to voters on Monday.
Hope E. Tremblay can be reached at [email protected]
