THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, June 9, 2017
Page 7
A night-after celebration? Selectmen hope to be talking about the town getting a new school project when they meet again – one day after the June 20 Special Election By Mark E. Vogler
T
he four selectmen at Wednesday night’s meeting took their turns calling on residents at home to support the town’s campaign for a new Middle-High School when they go to the polls in less than two weeks. “We don’t meet til the day after … Hopefully, we’ll be celebrating,” Selectman Jeff Jeffrey Cicolini said, referring to the next time the board convenes in public session – 7:30 p.m. on June 21. Cicolini and three of his colleagues – Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta and Selectmen Scott Brazis and Jennifer D’Eon – all said they are looking forward to the victorious vote in the June 20 Special Election which Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree said “will make history” for the town’s education system. The two questions to be considered: • Whether to support the new Middle -High School Building which includes a multipurpose athletic field and outdoor track. For this project, the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), as the Town’s financial partner, will reimburse the Town at a minimum rate of 53.32% (expected to increase) of eligible approved project costs. The price tag on this project
is $160.7 million. • Consideration of the District-Wide Master Plan Solution, which is comprised of the renovations and improvements at the Belmonte Middle School (which will be grades 3-5) and Veterans Memorial Elementary School (Pre-K through grade 2). Saugus Public Schools administrative offices will vacate the historic Roby Building on Main Street and move into the Belmonte Middle School building under the plan. These changes will cost $25.4 million, which would not be reimbursable. A 30-year bond issue The town share would be an estimated $118.9 million of the total $186 million for the new construction and rehabbing, which would be bonded over a 30-year period. Registered voters would need to pass both questions in order for the school project to proceed. Two articles similar to the ballot questions received overwhelming approval by members at a Special Town Meeting last week. Only two members opposed the measure. But town officials and citizens on both sides of the ballot questions have said they expect a much closer vote than the last week’s landslide decisions at the Special Town Meeting – 44-2 for the new
school building and 43-2 on the article to rehab and make the Saugus Veterans Memorial Elementary School and the Belmonte Middle School suitable for new roles. “Get out and vote June 20. Get out and vote for your community,” Selectman Brazis declared, making a pitch during the meeting and ending the members’ comment period for voters watching selectmen at home on Saugus Community Cable TV. Panetta was upbeat in her remarks about the school project and related education plan. “It’s a very exciting time right now. A lot of ku-
dos to you,” she told the town manager. Crabtree was late getting to the board’s meeting, because he was addressing the Saugus Lions Club, answering members’ questions about the school project. The Town Manager told selectmen that he and Saugus Public Schools Superintendent Dr. David DeRuosi, Jr. have been meeting various citizen groups and service organizations in recent weeks, providing details and answering questions about the project. “We’ve been out promoting and providing information about the project,” Crab-
tree said He called the new school “the cornerstone to this community’s” education plan. “This is an investment for everybody. This will have major impact for the next 60 years,” Crabtree said. Cranking up the campaign Crabtree also narrated two educational programs in recent weeks on cable television, titled “Town Manager’s Desk,” in which he has guests who are involved with the school project. Recently, School Committee Chair Jeannie Meredith did a 22-minute segment that can
CELEBRATION | SEE PAGE 20
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in Saugus Plaza, South Bound Route 1
MBTA Bus Route 429
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