Voters deny $288 million high school building project a second time

Residents in Rochester and Mattapoisett headed to the polls on Saturday, June 20 to decide on the future of the Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School building project. 

Rochester denied the vote with 831 “no” and 579 “yes” votes. Mattapoisett was the only member town to pass the vote with 459 “yes” and 188 “no” votes. 

After a “no” vote in November, Old Colony proposed the same $288 million project plan to construct a new school building that would increase the student population and address aging infrastructure, failing systems and a lack of fire protection.

Updates would also include more classroom space, updated equipment and updated technology as part of an entirely new high school building. The increased space would also allow the school to offer three new programs for HVAC, plumbing and dental assisting.

The project would receive $129 million in grant funding from the state and an additional $11 million in incentives. The remaining cost of $148 million would be shared by the five member towns of Rochester, Mattapoisett, Carver, Acushnet and Lakeville. 

Rochester was estimated to pay around $22 million for the building. Mattapoisett was estimated to pay around $11 million for the building. 

The member towns of Old Colony had the option of presenting voters with a Proposition 2½ debt exclusion which would raise taxes a certain amount per household until the project is paid for, usually after 30 years. 

Rochester presented voters with two separate ballots, one addressing the building project and the other addressing the debt exclusion. 

Old Colony Superintendent Aaron Polansky was disappointed with the results and said he and the school committee will soon evaluate the next steps forward. 

“We had a greater turnout, but very similar results and so I think at this point we really just have to take a step back and evaluate what our options are,” Polansky said. 

Mattapoisett resident Phillip Jackson said he voted “yes” in support of education. 

“I'm a strong believer in education and if we fall behind in education across all fields our country is in trouble I think,” Jackson said. 

He said that vocational education is important since he interfaces with many people in the trades and they are “incredibly important contributors to our economy and to our life”.

Another Mattapoisett resident Chapman Dickerson voted in favor of the new school since his son is currently on the waitlist. Around 300 students apply to attend Old Colony each year, but the school only has room for approximately 150 students in its freshman class. 

Dickerson said the high school needs to be bigger and is a great option for kids who want to learn a specific skill and get a “head start” in life. 

“I don't think college is the answer for everybody,” Chapman said. 

Rochester resident and recent college graduate Christopher Feeney voted “no” for the new school. 

Feeney said that the project is too expensive and the school should prioritize making updates to the building instead of tearing it down. 

“I just think that it's too much money honestly,” Feeney said. 

Another young Rochester resident agreed with Feeney saying the project was too expensive of a burden to put on towns already struggling financially. 

“I just think it's too much to ask the people of Rochester and all the towns around to do something like that,” the young resident said. 

Bill Holbrook and Sheryl Holbrook of Rochester voted “yes” to the project and debt exclusion. 

Bill Holbrook said “it's a no-brainer” to support the new high school since making the state required upgrades to the school will cost just as much or more. 

Sheryl Holbrook agreed and said that college or traditional schools are not for everyone. 

“What will we do without all the people that have the skills in the trades?” Sheryl Holbrook asked.