Rochester residents question $288 million Old Colony campus upgrade

ROCHESTER — Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School has proposed a $288 million campus upgrade to construct a new building, implement new programs and bring updated technology to the aging facility.

On Monday, Sept. 15, Old Colony presented their campus upgrade plan to the Rochester Select Board and a group of residents in attendance at the meeting.

Old Colony representatives, including Superintendent Aaron Polansky, emphasized the current needs of the high school and the specific updates they would make.

Polanksy demonstrated the lack of classroom space by showing photos of Old Colony’s facilities. 

“Students in two different grades are in the same learning area and two teachers are trying to talk over one another.” Polansky continued, “It's what we have, we make do with it, but it certainly isn't ideal.”

The total cost of the proposed project is projected to be $288 million. However, with reimbursement from the Massachusetts School Building Authority, the cost is estimated to be approximately $129 million. 

The remaining $159 million would be paid by the five towns sending students to Old Colony, allocated on the basis of the percentage of students each sends to Old Colony. Rochester’s share is estimated to pay 18%.

The proposal will require a proposition 2 ½ debt exclusion that will temporarily raise taxes in Rochester for each household per year during the length of the project. Each of the five towns involved with Old Colony will have to individually approve debt exclusions.

Proposition 2 ½ prevents towns from increasing residents’ property tax by more than 2.5% per year without voter approval. Debt exclusions allow for a temporary tax increase above 2.5% for a specific project per voter approval.

The representatives directed residents to the Old Colony project website, www.oldcolonybuildingproject.com/tax-impact-calculator/, where they can input the value of their homes and receive an estimate of how much they will spend quarterly in additional taxes throughout the duration of the project.

The new building and programs would also allow for an increased student population from 560 students to 776 students.

Polansky reassured residents that they are looking to use grants as much as possible to save taxpayer dollars. 

“We are working aggressively to make sure that every time a competitive grant comes to the table, we're putting our best foot forward to try and secure those funds,” said Polansky. 

Additionally, new classrooms and equipment would be replaced with updated technology and three new programs would be added: HVAC, plumbing and dental. 

Improvements to the school would include safety updates since Old Colony currently lacks adequate fire suppression systems in case of an emergency. 

The addition of solar panels, larger windows and the use of native plants were also proposed to promote sustainability while lowering operating costs. 

Over 300 students apply for 150 spots at Old Colony yearly. Polansky explained that someone told him it's amazing that Old Colony has so many students apply when the building is so outdated. 

Polansky said, "Never take for granted the fact that the people in our building are what make us who we are.”

Kelly Smith, a Rochester resident, said her son just graduated from Old Colony and had been using the same tools in the machine shop that her husband used as a student back in 1994.

Resident Kristine Nash was concerned with the amount of taxes each household would pay. 

If the debt exclusion is not passed, but the school is expanded, each town would have to independently finance their share through their operating budget. 

Durant said the town may be concerned with exhausting its limited resources to accommodate the needs of the school.

“I think it was very transparent. I think they established a need.” Concerned, Durant added, “The concern is just in this economy, how we're going to be able to handle all the needs that we have with our limited resources.”

Tim Field, a Rochester resident, raised concern that an increase in student population could lead to a decrease in student population and funding for Old Rochester Regional High School. 

Select Board member Bradford Morse responded, “Yes and no because you still have fixed costs. You still have to maintain [Old Rochester Regional].”

He said that unless there were a supernatural number of students and programs that left Old Rochester, the school would still maintain its funding no matter how big Old Colony becomes. 

On Tuesday, Nov. 18, voters across the five towns will choose to accept or reject the building of a new high school for Old Colony. To pass, there needs to be a simple majority of the voter base across the five towns. 

Polansky and other members of the project team said they will be available to answer questions at local events including football games, forums and presentations. A list of their appearances can be found on their Facebook at this link, www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=122138248346826213&set=a.122138248646826213.

More information about the Old Colony building project can be found online at www.oldcolonybuildingproject.com/ and on their Facebook at www.facebook.com/OldColonyRVTHS.