Details Shared about $305 Million School Project

Voters will be heading to the polls on March 5 to decide on funding for a $305 Million building project for Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School.

The funding for the Bristol-Plymouth building project has to win a two-thirds vote from all of the member communities including Berkley, Bridgewater, Dighton, Middleborough, Raynham, Rehoboth and Taunton.

Even if the majority of Rehoboth voters reject the article, the funding could still be approved as long as a two-thirds vote is reached by the other towns.

Rehoboth taxpayers would be required to contribute to the project funding if the ballot item passed.

Rehoboth Selectman George Solas met with representatives of Bristol-Plymouth on December 14 to discuss the project. The discussion was taped for broadcast on Rehoboth Community Television.

“The building is a 50 year old building and it has shown its age,” explained

Bristol-Plymouth Superintendent Alex Magalhaes. “It’s going to need extensive repair.”

The Massachusetts School Building Authority recently provided authorization for a Project Funding Agreement for the Bristol-Plymouth project. The agreement includes reimbursement of 62.25 percent of eligible project costs up to a maximum reimbursement amount of $125, 569, 759 toward construction of a modern Bristol-Plymouth school facility. A multi-year feasibility study had been conducted.

“Repairs that include new HVAC systems, new roof, new windows, steel upgrades, ADA upgrades, and plumbing repairs are all needed to bring the schools up to code and will cost the district millions of dollars without adding any educational upgrades or additional square footage,” said Tina Stanislaski from HMFH Architects, the firm working on the project.

There are also security issues due to the construction of outbuildings on the campus.

“There’s not one main building,” Stanislaski noted. “Basically to do a repair of everything wrong with the building and bring it to today’s codes, we’re looking at a project that’s well over $100 million.”

In addition, the school is severely overcrowded and lacks the technology and equipment needed for today’s learning environments, there are inadequate numbers of science labs and special education classrooms, and vocational shops and labs are severely undersized, according to Stanislaski.

The original cost for the project was substantially more, said Chad Crittenden, the owner’s project manager with Boston-based PMA Consultants. The preliminary design cost was $325 million. The final submission to the MSBA was $305 million.

“The (school) committee is motivated to do whatever they can to keep pushing these costs down to reduce the burden on the communities,” Crittenden noted.

The MSBA grant is $125 million, which means the member communities need to come up with $179.5 million.

“We realize it’s a huge cost. It’s a big ask. The opportunity here is take advantage of those MSBA funds and move the project forward,” Crittenden added. “Even if we don’t take advantage of the MSBA funds, we’re still looking at maintaining that building for the next 30 years.”

If the funds are approved, there would be a bidding process, followed by a two year construction window. Phase two would consist of abatement and demolition of the existing building as well as final site improvements.

The building would be ready for student occupancy in September 2025. The current building would be demolished the following year.

Rehoboth Selectman Michael Deignan discussed the financial impact on residents if the project was approved. The tax rate for fiscal year 2022 is $12.67 per $1000 of assessed value. The average single family home value is $402,808. The average single family home tax bill is $5,103.

Deignan said the town’s annual payment for the project would be $549,000 a year. This is based on level debt service over a 30 year period. The figure is based on the town’s current enrollment numbers (5.33 percent).

“Based on this fiscal year’s data and current enrollment figures, the impact for the average homeowner is $99.81,” Deignan noted.

Deignan explained a debt exclusion, which is a temporary tax increase, would be needed to pay the town’s share.

More information, including architectural drawings and construction estimates, can be accessed at https://www.bptech.org/msba.