Pittsfield Approves Funds To Build New Taconic High School
 Superintendent Jason McCandless, School Committee member Daniel Elias, City Councilor Kathleen Amuso, state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, and School Committee member Pamela Farron hug after the funding was approved. |
The proposed school is going to cost $120.8 million, with the city picking up $40 million or so of that tab. The rest is being paid through the Massachusetts School Building Authority.
Tuesday's vote allows the city's financial staff to bond the funds for the project. In June, the MSBA will cast a similar vote for its portion.
"This is certainly the most important vote, most meaningful vote, I will ever take as a member of the City Council," said Ward 6 Councilor John Krol.
Every city councilor spoke briefly of his or her support of the project after some 18 people representing various sectors urged a positive vote during the open microphone period.
"This is the night when you have the opportunity to make history," said School Committee Chairwoman Katherine Yon. "It is an investment in our youth, our community, and our future."
School officials, business representatives, and private citizens urged the positive vote, mostly calling it a way to move the city forward. The crowd included business officials, union representatives, students and School Committee members and school building needs commissioners.
When the roll call vote was completed, somebody launched balloons into the air as a roar of applause filled the chamber. A recess was called and across the room, people were hugging and handshaking.
"It is really unbelievable that we are here tonight," said state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, who has been working on the project since its inception a decade ago. "This is the most important vote in a generation in this city."
Ward 2 Councilor Kevin Morandi said the decision is a "balancing act" in that the project will raise taxes. But, voting it will move the city forward, which he said is the job of the City Council.
"It is an opportunity to move forward. It is a great opportunity and we're going to get the word out there that Pittsfield has a top-notch, vocational school," Morandi said.
Ward 5 Councilor Jonathan Lothrop said that in today's economy, employers need highly skilled workers, who come from vocational education programs. He said his vote in favor is "the easiest vote I've ever had to take but also the most important."
"To compete in the 21st century, you have to have a skill set," Lothrop said. "If we want a middle class in America, this is what it is going to take."
Diane Marcella, of the Tyler Street Business Group, said the workforce coming from the new career and vocational education will help business.
"We are trying to make Pittsfield a better place," Marcella said. "We have a lot of work to do. There is a lot of competition out there. Please vote yes for the school and vote yes to make Pittsfield better."
The city envisions growing an economy around the modern manufacturing and life science industry. In recent years, businesses have cited a lack of skilled workers. The focus in recent years to build the pipeline of educated workers as one way to help lure businesses to the area.
"It will allow Pittsfield to create a true partnership, and strong partnership, with the small to medium sized businesses into he city," Mayor Daniel Bianchi said.
"The new Taconic High School will be a beacon for many generations to come."
Interprint's Managing Director William Hines said Tuesday's vote will attract new people and businesses to the area.
"This is about the collective we. We as residents of this community have a responsibility to take ownership of the future of this city," he said. "We still have work to do. It is time to take another big step and this school is the next step."
 City Councilor Barry Clairmont and Jason McCandless after the vote. |
Denis Guyer, a former state representative, said he moved to the city because of the educational system and that others will do the same. The quality of the education has an impact on property values, he said.
June Roy-Martin of the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce said businesses do the same.
"It is time to invest in the youth of the community. They are our future workforce," she said. "It is time to support this economic development project. ... It is time to take charge of our future and our destiny."
Taconic has served as the vocational school since it was built in 1968 but has fallen into disrepair. The process looked at renovations or additions but ultimately, the School Building Needs Commission voted to move forward with a full replacement. Superintendent Jason McCandless said the state wouldn't have approved a renovation project.
"The MSBA simply will not put the money into a building like Taconic," McCandless said.
Taconic student Matthew Barry knows the problems firsthand and said students won't be able to compete if they continue to be educated in such a worn-down facility.
"If Pittsfield is going to succeed, we are going to need a state-of-the-art high school," Barry said.
If voted down, school officials estimate that it would cost some $36 million to keep the school in good enough condition to keep accreditation and continue to serve students. The new school is estimated to bring in additional students from outside of the city, which could help offset the difference in cost between the $36 million renovation and the slightly more than $40 million new building.
"When you put the numbers to [residents] and explain that we have to reverse the trend of students opting out of this district so that in essence the money we are spending each year on this project is going to be almost repaid," said Vice President Christopher Connell.
The project has been 10 years in the making as the School Building Needs Commission sorted out and crafted the options. The school is now expected to break group in the spring of 2016 and be open in last summer of 2018.
School Building Needs Commission member John Barber said his commission voted unanimously in favor of the entire project — not just the funding — after months of intense meetings.
"After all of the hours we spent, we, as a group, came to a solution and we knew it was the correct solution," Barber said.
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