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Vote YesThe following excerpt, authored by Katherine P. Craven, the current Executive Director of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), was taken from Vol. I., No. I of The Mass School Builder, Summer 2008.
"During the next five years, the Authority (MSBA) will collaborate with municipalities to equitably invest $2.5 billion in your schools by finding the right sized, most fiscally responsible and educationally appropriate solutions to create safe and sound learning environments. The Authority is focused on remedying the "neediest and most urgent situations first."
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has set aside the $2.5 billion dollars, referenced above, for this exclusive purpose. In order for towns to benefit from these available funds the following must occur.
1) The MSBA requires that communities interested in either renovating an existing educational facility or building a new educational facility file A Statement of Interest (SOI). The Town of Longmeadow filed such a SOI with the MSBA on 7/25/07. The filing was supported by findings from the Kaestle Boos study previously undertaken by this community. The filing requested consideration for state assistance in either building a new high school or renovating our existing high school.
2) The MSBA selected Longmeadow High School for consideration as a result of this SOI. Our high school was one of only 49 schools selected out of the 423 schools that filed Statements of Interest.
3) Of the 49 schools selected, only 15 schools are high schools and Longmeadow is one of only 8 high schools that have been identified as possible candidates for the MSBA model high school project.
4) The MSBA will work with the Town of Longmeadow to determine the best solution to our high school infrastructure problems, whether it is renovation or new construction.
5) In order to proceed with the MSBA and to ensure that we receive reimbursement of no less than 45% from the Commonwealth for the future project's cost, the Town of Longmeadow must commit to funding an MSBA required feasibility study. This requires that the Town,
a) approve a $750,000 Feasibility Study, by a favorable 2/3rds vote at the Oct. 28 Town Meeting and, b) vote in favor of the debt exclusion question on the Nov. 4 ballot to raise the funds for this study.
If we fail to meet either of these requirements, the process will immediately stop and we will be removed from the "selected" list for reimbursement or we will be faced with initiating a separate town meeting and special town election for approval of the feasibility study and it's funding. If the Town fails to support the feasibility study in either of these scenarios, any future improvements to the high school, whether renovation or new construction would then be funded 100% by Longmeadow real estate tax dollars with no state aid.
This community has enjoyed a tradition of pride in our schools, teachers and education system. The status of our high school building has been deemed "needy and urgent." What will be our legacy for future Longmeadow citizens? Vote in favor of the MSBA required feasibility study on Oct. 28 at Town Meeting and on Nov. 4 at the polls.
Fran Cress
Longmeadow
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