SOUTHWICK – Voters have a tough decision to make Jan. 31. Residents of Southwick, Granville and Tolland will decide whether or not to approve a $72 million debt exclusion for renovations at three of the regional district’s schools, 60 percent of which will be reimbursed by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).
While the project passed by two-thirds vote at special meetings in all three towns earlier this month, there is no clear outcome. Tuesday’s vote is by a majority and project supporters and naysayers have been out in full force to garner support for their side. For one resident, no is the only way to vote.
Darrell Cass has a teenage daughter who would attend the proposed combined middle/high school, but unlike a lot of parents who have spearheaded efforts to get a “yes” vote, Cass is planning to vote no.
“They didn’t review the statistics,” said Cass of project supporters.
Cass said the project, which includes major renovations to Powder Mill Middle School and the high school, as well as some renovations to Woodland School, is a “monstrosity.”
Cass said no one seems to be disputing the fact that all three schools need work. A parent member of the Powder Mill Student Council, Cass has been a volunteer in the schools and served on PTOs. He said here are definitely repairs and upgrades needed.
Superintendent Dr. John Barry and members of the School Building Committee have stressed the need for major repairs and upgrades at all three schools. At Woodland, classes are overcrowded and the plan calls for Woodland to become a pre-K to second grade school. Life safety and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades, HVAC system replacement, and provision of specialized educational program support spaces are part of the project.
Powder Mill would become an intermediate school for grades three – six. Current enrollment is 580 students in grades five – eight. The project includes HVAC, electrical and plumbing system replacement, space modernization and ADA and life safety upgrades. New windows will also be “green” and block sunlight, keeping the temperature cooler on hot days.
Plans for the high school call for ADA and life safety upgrades, select HVAC upgrades, NEASC accreditation issues, including science rooms, administration, guidance and storage spaces, will be addressed. Technology education would receive modernization, and the main entry would be upgraded, among other items.
Barry said repairs and upgrades alone would cost $60 million.
Cass said repairs should be made one at a time and should not be pushed as a reason to vote in favor of the project.
“Let’s just do the repairs that need to be done and not this whole monstrosity,” said Cass, who suggested short-term bonding for larger upgrades.
Cass also said supporters of the project keep mentioning overcrowding as one of the reasons the project is needed. However, said Cass, that is not the case.
“Class sizes are 16-22 students,” said Cass, “except at Woodland because they added pre-K and full-time kindergarten a few years ago.”
The solution to that problem, according to Cass, is to move pre-K and kindergarten to Granville Village School. Cass said he also has doubts that the project does not require additional teachers.
“They’re adding 27 classrooms – someone has to be in the room to teach,” he said. “It’s simple physics. You have to hire extra staff, a nurse, janitors . . . the list goes on and on. And how do you deal with the logistics of having six classes eat lunch in one cafeteria?”
Barry has said teaching staff would be shifted in some cases and shared in others. When asked about lunch times, he said last month that they would be able to work it out.
Cass’s biggest complaint is the cost. The cost to residents after reimbursement is approximately $30 million. The average property tax payer in Southwick would pay an additional $394 a year in taxes if the district bonds at four percent, which Barry said is a “conservative number” since recent bond rates have been as low as 1.5 percent.
“People can’t afford that,” said Cass.
Cass said his family was one of the founders of the town and has always been fiscally responsible.
“We wouldn’t have built Consolidated School if it meant people would have to move out of town,” said Cass.
Cass and a group of residents promoting a “no” vote will meet at the American Inn tonight at 6:30 p.m. to speak to the public about the project.
The polls open in Southwick Tuesday from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m., in Tolland from 12-7 p.m., and in Granville from 12-8 p.m.
