Natick (MA) Town Meeting approves new ($89 million) high school

Boston Globe ^ | February 5, 2010 | Jessica Rudis

[reaganaut1]

After a lengthy debate, the Natick Special Town Meeting last night overwhlemingly approved funding for an $89 million new Natick High School, sending the measure to March 30 townwide special election.

It is the second major construction project approved by Town Meeting this week. On Tuesday night, money for a new community/senior center was approved.

With $43.1 million in reimbursements from the Massachusetts School Building Authority, Natick taxpayers will only have to pay for $45.9 million of the project with a property tax increase. Still, members questioned if the total expense of the project was completely necessary.

"I have a tough time in all consciousness voting two and a half million dollars for a football field when I have friends in this town who can?t pay their mortgage," said Town Meeting member Paul Regan. "I think it?s a luxury that would be nice to have, but it's not a necessity."

Member Bruce Whitney attempted to amend the item to lower the overall cost down to $80 million, noting that the $10 million price tag for the community/senior center project that was approved by Town Meeting Tuesday night had been significantly lowered from initial estimates. The center proposal will also be on the March 30 ballot.

"What we need is a basic building with modern technology and no bells and whistles," Whitney said.

School superintendent Peter Sanchioni said that the school system already spends significant money on small repairs to the current high school, and the new school will reduce that spending.

"A no vote is not free," he said. "The building needs expensive renovations just to keep the rain out and the heat in."

After an extended period of questions and debate, the motion to reduce the funding was rejected.

Then, funding for the new high school was approved.

[reaganaut1]

$89 million for a high school? Why do high school buildings cost so much nowadays?

In Newton, MA, their "Taj Mahal" high school cost $200 million.

[the invisib1e hand]

Federally subsidized, union approved, shovel ready stimulus.

[Vermont Lt]

When I started paying attention to such things, I was dumbfounded to find out that my town did not have a 5-10-20 year capital plan.

There was no planning to replace their IT infrastructure, there was no planning for building repairs (like roofs) and there was no consolidated plan to purchase big ticket items (for example: vehicles.)

And this is in a community that has some of the best financial forecasters and managers in the northeast.

We have allowed ourselves to be surrounded by idiots. And what does that make us?

[the invisib1e hand]

We have allowed ourselves to be surrounded by idiots.

And queers, in Vt.

And what does that make us?

So screwed.

[the invisib1e hand]

Natick used to be a cool little place. A little trashy, but that's Mass.

Then the Massholes took over.

[the invisib1e hand]

wow. A thread about a whopping $89mm boondoggle in Natick, Mass draws 6 replies, 4 of them mine.

But $89 mm is big news in Natick.