Academics

The proposal for a new Taconic High School was years in the making. Initial discussions ranged from creating a regional vocational district to whether the city should pursue a two-school or "one-school" plan that would close Pittsfield High School.

With no interest in developing a regional school, the city moved forward with what eventually became a focus on renovating or rebuilding Taconic. Last fall, the School Building Needs Commission voted to pursue a new school after cost estimates for additions and renovations came in at about the same price. Projected repairs at the school with no addition were in the $36 million ballpark; state funding was limited.

The Massachusetts School Building Authority reimburses up to 80 percent of eligible costs, such as for instructional spaces. The anticipated cost is $120.8 million of which the city will be responsible for $45 million.

The City Council will vote on whether or not to fund the project on Tuesday, April 14. Following that vote, the MSBA will have to approve its own reimbursement on Wednesday, June 3.

At that point, design development phase in which the consultants Skanska USA will work with city officials to further flesh out details and hire a construction manager at risk. That process is expected to include a daylong session for officials to sort through all of the proposals. Ultimately, the group will determine who they'll hire to head the project and enter negotiations. Pre-construction work will also happen during this phase.

Academics

The project is built around an educational plan the School Committee approved early in the project. McCandless said the idea is to "re-envision" vocational education and putting a premium on the programs. That includes upping the qualifications to get into the program and increasing competitiveness.

"It is not lesser than academics. It is actually academics plus. Voc students have to pass the same three MCAS tests that our kids who have been collegebound since kindergarten have to pass," McCandless said. "Our vocational students, almost to a person they could go to college as soon as they graduate. We want everybody to have the college option but we are getting out of the business of saying college is your only path forward."

In recent years the school has boosted vocational programming with a new SkillsUSA chapter and partnerships with Berkshire Community College and local businesses, like Interprint. This is designed to give local students a step up on careers and prepare a skilled work force to attract employers.

"You can earn a good living without incurring the debt and putting your life on hold," McCandless said of vocational education.