Old Colony presents $288 million campus upgrade for public consideration

LAKEVILLE — During a public meeting with town officials on Tuesday, Sept. 9, representatives of the Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical School presented a funding plan for construction of a new school building. 

School representatives said their current facilities are limiting and in disrepair. The project would use $140 million in state funding to finance the construction that will cost $288 million in total. Voters of Mattapoisett, Rochester and the towns whose students attend the school will decide to fund the remaining $160 million through proposition 2 1/2 “debt exclusions.”

A debt exclusion allows a town to exceed its tax limit for the period during which borrowed money is repaid. An exclusion needs to be approved by Town Meeting and a public referendum. In this case, each of the effected towns: Rochester, Mattapoisett, Lakeville, Acushnet and Carver.

At the meeting, Superintendent Aaron Polansky said the existing 50-year-old building at 476 North Ave., has “dramatically” increasing maintenance costs and operational issues.

“We need a new Old Colony, or we need to do some serious work with the old, Old Colony, " Polansky said, “and this seemed to be the best decision.”

The School Building Committee, who is leading the project, found that building the proposed two-story facility would have larger capacity and better longevity for more programs and enrollment — rather than repairing the current building.

Polanksy said the current building is “undersized in every area.” School administrators and psychologists have turned supply closets into offices, and needed maintenance to the drinking water system, bathrooms, classrooms and parking lot are mounting, he said.

The school also intends to extend courses for dental assisting, HVAC, plumbing and provide education for adults in the evenings. The plan also included improved classrooms for cosmetology studios, auto-mechanic shops and culinary work stations.

Community forums will take place at the Rochester Council on Aging on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 9 a.m. and at the Mattapoisett Council on Aging on Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 10 a.m. Attendees will be able to ask questions about the building project.

Additionally, Old Colony representatives will also meet with the Rochester Select Board and Finance Committee on Monday, Sept. 15 at 6 p.m. and the Mattapoisett Select Board and Finance Committee on Tuesday, Sept. 23. At 6 p.m.