Rockland Public Schools

A Message From the Superintendent

On September 30th, the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Building Authority (MSBA), approved an $86 million building project for Rockland Public Schools. This project which still requires Town meeting and Town election approval would construct a new middle school attached to the existing Rockland High School. It would also comprehensively renovate the high school. The exact costs involved are as follows: Project cost $86,201,449; reimbursable amount $83,032,496; reimbursement rate 64.26%; maximum reimbursement $53,356,682; total cost to the town $32,844,767. The bottom line here is that the town would get two state of the art schools for $32 million. Interestingly, the full cost of the project is not felt by the taxpayer until the fourth year of the project. Our best estimates from Eastern Bank are that the project will increase taxes $23 in the first year, $127 in the second year, $237 in the third year and then $400 a year for 22 years. This is based on a house value of $300,000. This is debt exclusion and not subject to a yearly 2.5% increase.

As most of you know. The middle school is in pretty bad shape. The classrooms are undersized. The heating and plumbing are antiquated and we have had several incidents of plaster falling from the ceilings in the classrooms. What people might not realize is that the high school is also in need of serious work. The heating system is nearing the end of its useful life. The roof is now past its warranty period and over half of the windows are 1970's vintage. I think the district has done a remarkable job of maintaining the educational spaces but no one can argue that the auditorium which should be the centerpiece of the school is very tired, that the gym floor cannot be sanded any more because we are down to the nails and that the kitchen and cafeteria are obsolete. What also cannot be argued is that while we have replaced a lot of aging technology in the last few years, the need for more technology in the classroom is high.

So, what can we expect to get from this project? First, all the middle school will be new construction. Classrooms will be much larger than the existing classrooms and each team will have a fully equipped oversized science lab. There will be a 125 seat lecture room which can hold a complete team. This room will also be available to the high school. The library media center will serve both schools. The high school will access it from one end and the middle school from the other. It will have the latest technology. The middle school will have a full size gymnasium with bleachers which will be a huge asset to the community.

The high school auditorium will be gutted and what will emerge is a modern 800 seat theater with air-conditioning and the latest in lighting and sound. It will serve both schools and the community and watching a play or attending town meeting will be a very different experience. The gymnasium spaces will be completely renovated, including a new gym floor and bleachers. High school accreditation has been an ongoing issue and it has revolved around the condition of the Science labs. The district renovated four of the labs last year, but the estimates to renovate the remaining three labs ranged from $600,000 to $1 million. This is included in the project and will solve the accreditation issue. Both schools will have new furniture and equipment and the latest technology in every classroom and every lab. The two schools wll be up to date in every way possible. This includes new plumbing, electric and heating in the high school as well as new windows and a new roof. Both buildings will be completely handicapped accessible.

So, what about the elementary schools? First, any useable equipment, furniture or technology from the existing middle and high schools would be available to them. With the fifth grade moving up to the middle school, there would be space for special classes such as Art and Music and hopefully in the future full-time kindergarten. With the maintenance issues at the middle and high school taken care of, all of the district's maintenance budget could be focused on the elementary schools. Any new purchases of furniture, equipment or technology would be exclusively at the elementary level. So in fact this project will have a profound effect at every grade level in the district.

I have tried to summarize a very complex project in a small space. If you have any questions or comments, please call me at 781-878-3893. This project will be voted on at Town Meeting on November 3rd and in the Town Election on November 14th.