Pittsfield Residents Wary of Taconic High School Cost
 Pittsfield residents like Ellen Fothergill are wondering if they can bear the cost of a new Taconic High School. |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — How much and whether Pittsfield should invest in its educational system is the question looming over the proposed new Taconic High School.
The $115 million project — the city is responsible for about $40 million — is heading to a critical juncture this spring as the city and state determine whether to move forward with the project.
But while residents agree something must be done for the 46-year-old school, the cost is weighing heavily.
"Where are we going to get this $40 million?" asked Ellen Fothergill on Monday night. She was worried both about her grandchildren's education and the impact on her taxes. "You've got the elderly, you've got the young. How are you going to pay for this? I have no more to give. I can't take anymore."
Fothergill was one of more than a dozen residents who attended a public input session held by Ward 1 Councilor Lisa Tully and Ward 2 Councilor Kevin Morandi at the Union Hall on Tyler Street.
The two were joined by Councilor at Large Barry Clairmont, School Building Needs Commission Chairwoman Kathleen Amuso, Superintendent of Schools Jason McCandless, and state Reps. Tricia Farley-Bouvier and Paul Mark.
Tully and Morandi were hoping to to get input from residents as they face a vote on authorizing bonding for the project later this spring.
The high school debate has been going on for a decade. It took several years to come to the conclusion, with the Massachusetts School Building Authority, that Taconic would be the focus — not both high schools and not one "super high school."
Strong encouragement by the state to regionalize the vocational school hit a dead end when surrounding towns rejected the idea. McCandless, formerly superintendent of the Lee schools, said the costs of joining a vocational district and for transportation made the concept a "non-starter."
Amuso said the project has evolved because of all the study and debate that has been put into it over the years. The School Building Needs Commission voted last fall on the new school option over renovations and additions.
"This is the project we'll fund," she said.
The total price has been pegged between $115 million and $125 million (the highest the MSBA will approve). The budget will be pinned down at the beginning of February when the independent estimates are reconciled. The final budget will be voted on Feb. 9 and submitted to the MSBA.
"I'm afraid if we don't do this, we're going to go back to the drawing board and this is going to be 20 years," said Sheila Coughlin, but added, "it's hard to justify without thinking we should go to one school and we shouldn't be afraid to say that."
McCandless agreed, saying the new Taconic High would be built with the potential of adding on in the future to accommodate all the city's high school students.
 Robert O'Connor turns to talk with a resident behind him. O'Connor expressed skepticism that Taconic should be razed and replaced. |
Unless something happens to halt the slide, the county's declining demographics mean a much smaller school-age population 20 or 30 years down the road, he said.
Right now, Taconic has about 750 students and Pittsfield High, 900.
Officials are hoping a high-tech Taconic will be an attraction to businesses and families.
"We see this as a real partner piece to the Berkshire Innovation Center," McCandless said. "It can be a pretty powerful economic engine for the region."
He and other officials had toured the new Putnam Vocational Technical Academy in Springfield earlier in the day.
Farley-Bouvier reminded those present that the MBTA railcar contract went to a group setting up in Springfield.
"A mile from Putnam High School and it was no accident it went there," she said. "One of the major points was they had ready-made workers coming out of that school to work in that plant. ... That was 200 jobs."
But several residents pointed to other projects coming down the pipeline - including renovations needed at three or four other schools, a new police station and $40 million in wastewater treatment plant upgrades.
"I'm totally against it. The present school is one of the newest schools in Pittsfield - it was opened in 1969," said Robert O'Connor. "Springfield has all kinds of support for a school like that.
"I don't think we need a new high school. ... There's so many things we have to pay for and this is a huge expense."
He and several others suggested doing repairs over time.
The feasibility study of the school put the base repairs at $36 million, none of which would be reimbursed by the state. The cost would be about $4.5 million less than the new school.
"Twice I've come into my classroom and found the ceiling on my desk," said Donna Quallen, a teacher at Taconic.
O'Connor asked about touring the school and McCandless said he would schedule tours for any residents who wanted them.
Another woman said if the city didn't invest to retain and attract young families, the declining and aging population would inevitably lead to higher taxes anyway.
"Doing nothing, you think you're taxes are bad now ...," she said.
Farley-Bouvier said Pittsield residents have been paying sales taxes for years that are being spent building schools in other districts.
One cent of the 6.25 percent tax is dedicated to fund the MSBA, which has spent $11 billion on schools over the past decade.
"We've been building new schools all over the state with our pennies," Farley-Bouvier said. "Now it's time for their pennies to build our school."
The City Council will hold an information session on the project at its Feb. 3 meeting.
Tags: MSBA, school building, school project, Taconic High,
