School project on ballot in Marblehead
Tax hike would fund $21.8m fix
Marblehead voters Tuesday will decide whether the town should temporarily raise taxes for two school building projects.
At a special election, residents will consider two debt exclusions. One is for $21.8 million to overhaul the Village School; the other for $395,000 to study options for the Glover School, including the district's proposal to build a new school replacing the Glover and Eveleth schools.
A debt exclusion allows a municipality to temporarily exceed its property tax cap to repay debt on a project. The exclusion for the Village School, a 20-year bond, would add $100 and the Glover exclusion, a five-year-bond, would add $5.54 to the annual tax bill for a median home valued at $541,190.
"We certainly recognize that the economy is difficult and people are feeling their wallets being pinched," said School Committee member Patricia Blackmer. "But this is an excellent opportunity to have the state participate in investments we have to make in our schools."
The state's School Building Authority recently committed to reimbursing the town for at least 40 percent of the costs of the Village School repairs, which involve replacement of the building's heating and lighting systems, new windows, and a new roof.
The authority also has agreed to fund 40 percent of the Glover study.
A committee organized to promote the ballot question has been giving residents tours of the Village School to see firsthand the need for repairs. The group, Marblehead, The Time is Now, also has handed out fliers, set up a website (marbleheadthetimeisnow.com), and sent mailings.
"Most of it is organic," spokeswoman Kimba Jackson said of the committee's campaign. "It's 'call your friends.'
"For both schools, the programs and teachers are fabulous, but the facilities are old and in need of repair," said Jackson, the mother of a Village School student. She said this is the time to address those building needs "to take advantage of funds from the state."
There is no committee working to defeat the debt exclusions. But some voices are being raised against the tax measures.
Barbara Anderson, executive director of Citizens for Limited Taxation and a Marblehead resident, plans to vote "no" on both questions because she asserts the school buildings should not have been allowed to fall into such disrepair.
"I am really fed up with the maintenance situation in Marblehead and other places, where they defer maintenance and put money in teacher salaries and pensions and benefits and early retirements, and just ignore the fact that the heating system is falling apart until they know it's so bad that voters feel they have no choice but to give them an override," she said.
Selectman Harry Christensen, whose board voted unanimously to support the debt exclusions, said the needs of the school buildings should have been addressed before now. But Christensen said the reimbursement pledged by the state convinced him to support the debt exclusions.
"If these repairs are not done, there are some serious, serious ramifications for the students," he said, referring to the Village School project. "When you couple that with the state picking up at least 40 percent of the cost, we'd be fools to not go along."
The Annual Town Meeting last month overwhelmingly approved the requested funds for both projects, subject to passage of the debt exclusions.
The Village School serves all of the town's fourth- through sixth-grade students. The Eveleth and Glover are companion schools that serve students from kindergarten to third grade in a common neighborhood.
Marblehead last year applied for state funds for five school projects and identified the Glover as the priority.
The School Building Authority included Glover on a list of projects selected to move into a feasibility study, a first step in securing full project funding. Glover's facility needs include updated mechanical systems and access for the disabled.
The district believes a new school for Glover and Eveleth would solve the facility needs of both buildings and enhance collaboration among teachers from the companion schools.
In addition to the study, the $395,000 debt exclusion would pay for a schematic design of the chosen building option and a project manager.
Just before Town Meeting, the School Building Authority agreed to provide the Village School reimbursement.
Last month, Catherine Craven, SBA director, praised Marblehead for choosing repairs over replacement of the Village School.
