By Mickey Friedman
October 27, 2014
Michael Wise of the Great Barrington Finance Committee says I’m “unhelpful.” Alan Chartock calls the 955 of his fellow town citizens who voted NO last November “selfish” and “un-American.”
They say the issue is simple: If you vote NO on their $51.2 million renovation of Monument Mountain High School you will pay more to fix the school as things break: “Fixing only essential repairs will cost taxpayers at least 20 percent more than a Renovation Project.” They say there is no practical alternative.
51.2 million dollars reimbursed by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) with $23.2 million. A reimbursement rate of 48.52 percent. It will cost the district only $28.02 million, and Great Barrington $19.4 million.
To convince you they made a chart: We need $38.6 million worth of necessary repairs. Claiming if we applied to the Accelerated Repair program of the MSBA we’d only get $4.9 million, a reimbursement rate of 12.7 percent. That’s $33.64 million with Great Barrington paying $21.4 million.
So why spend $21.4 million to fix things when for $19.4 million you get it all? Why trade a reimbursement rate of 48.52 percent for a measly 12.7 percent?
That’s the fiction. How about helpful American facts:
There are two very real and practical strategies to fix the school while paying less than their plan. First, the MSBA Accelerated Repair Program. School districts all over the Commonwealth are fixing real roofs, real windows, and real boilers and making science lab upgrades with MSBA reimbursement rates far higher than the School Committee’s imaginary 12.7 percent. And it allows for multiple projects.
In recent years 70 different School Districts with a total of 131 projects have participated in the MSBA Accelerated Repair Program.
Let’s fix a real roof instead of insulting and misleading the taxpayers. Here are some 2012 real-life projects:
The Easton Jr. HS received an MSBA reimbursement rate of 50.16 percent for their $1,889,000 roof. The Bridgewater MS roof was repaired for $1,482,000 with a MSBA reimbursement of 55.6 percent. The J. F. Kennedy ES received an MSBA reimbursement rate of 57.7 percent for their $1,222,707 roof repair. Lynn Voc/Tech’s $3,097,000 roof repair received an MSBA reimbursement of 80 percent.
Yes, Sudbury’s Gen. John Nixon ES only received a 36.89 percent MSBA reimbursement for their $542,775 roof project. But 36.9 percent is a lot higher than 12.7 percent.
Want to fix the roof and the windows? Ruggles Lane ES of Quabbin received an MSBA reimbursement rate of 57.74 percent for their $2,287,836 project.
Windows and the boiler? Worcester’s James Caradonio Center fixed their windows and boiler for $1,007,132 with a MSBA reimbursement of 80 percent.
Just windows? Lynn’s Breed MS received a MSBA reimbursement rate of 80 percent for its $2,167,300 window project. Worcester’s May Street School fixed their windows for $1,548,167 and received an MSBA reimbursement of 80 percent.
Just the boiler? Leominster fixed the boiler at Fall Brook ES for $684,000 with a MSBA reimbursement at 73.38 percent.
These different schools from different districts have fixed windows, roofs and boilers thanks to the MSBA’s Accelerated Repair Program.
Alternative number two: the MSBA Core Program for Major Repairs which allows you fix just about everything that needs fixing .
Williamsburg renovated its Dunphy Elementary School, including repairs to its HVAC system, for $12.4 million, and the MSBA reimbursed the district at 61.86 percent.
The MSBA is reimbursing 80 percent percent of eligible costs of the $37.9 million repair of the Chicopee Academy, “addressing deficiencies in structural integrity and in building systems including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, envelope and windows.”
The MSBA will reimburse $13.6 million of the $26,997,326 renovation of Rupert A. Nock Middle School in Newburyport. The project includes the upgrade of electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems, the installation of new windows, skylights, and sprinklers.
Just the kinds of things we need to fix.
There’s much more at http://www.massschoolbuildings.org/sites/default/files/edit-contentfiles/About_Us/Board_Meetings/2014_Board/9_24_14/Project_Overview_Report_w-Attachments_9_24_14.pdf
If all these other school districts got reimbursement rates so much better than 12.7 percent maybe we can borrow their experts.
We’ve seen what other schools have done. But just to be safe, let’s use the reimbursement rate the MSBA has already agreed to give us for the $51.2 million project, 48.52 percent instead of the fictitious 12.7 percent. $38.6 million of repairs reimbursed at 48.52 percent is $18.728 million. Great Barrington’s share, 69.56 percent of that, would be $13.02 million. That’s $13.02 million instead of $19.4 million. So with a realistically higher reimbursement rate, fixing only essential repairs will cost taxpayers significantly less than their renovation project. Is that helpful enough? American enough?
There are always alternatives. And ways to do right by our students, to fix things while being fiscally responsible. Repair then find support for the science/technology add-ons.
Shame on those who have insulted the NO voters, embarrassed those who are legitimately worried about paying their taxes. Especially our retirees, and our veterans living on fixed incomes. Self-righteous and holier-than-thou, they have betrayed important educational and democratic principles: free and open debate, mutual respect, and independent and critical thinking.
For more information:
MSBA press release Chicopee Academy
http://www.massschoolbuildings.org/news_events/Chicopee_Academy_GB_7.22.14
MSBA press release Rupert A. Nock MS
http://www.massschoolbuildings.org/news_events/Newburyport_Nock_4.9.13
MSBA press release Anne T. Dunphy Elementary School
http://www.massschoolbuildings.org/news_events/Williamsburg_DunphyES_RC_9.6.14
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