New $276 Million Vocational School Building Proposed for South Shore
South Shore Tech plans 250,000-square-foot facility to address overcrowding, outdated infrastructure
NORWELL - January 21 - A new $276 million vocational school has been proposed for the South Shore region to replace the aging South Shore Technical High School in Hanover. The project aims to construct a 250,000-square-foot facility capable of accommodating 900 students, addressing longstanding issues of overcrowding and outdated infrastructure.
South Shore Tech Superintendent Tom Hickey presented the proposal during a recent forum in Norwell, outlining the need for the new school and its potential impact on the region's workforce development.
"We're the second oldest regional vocational school in Massachusetts," Hickey said. "Our enrollment is currently 685 students or so. It's the highest enrollment in school history."
The existing 62-year-old building, according to Hickey, is at the end of its useful life. The school currently turns away over 40% of applicants due to space constraints.
The proposed new facility would be built on the current athletic fields behind the existing school on Webster Street in Hanover. It would provide space for 14 career technical programs, including two new programs in Veterinary Science and Plumbing.
The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) has invited South Shore Tech into its grant program, making the district eligible for up to 60% reimbursement of eligible costs. This commitment could save the nine member communities more than $110 million.
"We cannot grow an operating budget any faster than our towns can support it, period," Hickey emphasized, addressing concerns about rapid expansion.
A district-wide vote on the project is scheduled for Jan. 25, 2025. If approved, design work would begin in March 2025, with construction starting in April 2026. The new school is projected to open in August 2028.
The total project cost is estimated at $276 million, with the district's share anticipated to be approximately $166 million to $168 million. This represents a $9 million reduction from previous conceptual estimates.
Hickey highlighted the efficiency of the new design, stating, "We've been able to grow the student enrollment over time in fits and starts, and interest certainly has driven this."
The proposed school would feature a compact three-story design with new vocational spaces, right-sized learning areas to promote safety, and flexible learning through multi-purpose spaces.
A key feature of the new facility would be a multipurpose auditorium. Hickey explained, "We don't have an auditorium that would hold the full complement of the student body. Don't think it's necessary. What we built here instead was an auditorium that will hold half the school, and all of those seats retract."
The School Building Committee has focused on controlling project costs while maintaining educational quality. The design team has improved the building layout efficiency and reduced administration space, resulting in a 10,000-square-foot reduction in overall size.
Additionally, the district plans to have students and instructors construct certain aspects of the project, such as concession buildings and storage sheds, further reducing costs.
If voters reject the proposal, Hickey warned that repairs to the existing structure could cost $140 million to $150 million without state reimbursement.
The project has garnered bipartisan support from local legislators who view it as a prudent investment in the region's future workforce. Link to letter.
"For every five tradespeople that retire, only one is replaced with a recent graduate," Hickey noted, underscoring the importance of expanding vocational education in the area.
The single ballot election on Jan. 25, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., will determine the fate of the project. Voting locations have been designated in each of the nine member towns.
District Wide Election
January 25, 2025 9am-5pm
ABINGTON – Beaver Brook Elementary School, 1 Ralph G. Hamlin Jr., Lane
COHASSET – Deer Hill School, 208 Sohier Street
HANOVER – Hanover High School Media Room, 287 Cedar Street
HANSON – Hanson Middle School, 111 Liberty Street
MARSHFIELD – Marshfield High School Gym, 167 Forest Street
NORWELL – Norwell Town Hall, Osborn Room, 345 Main Street
ROCKLAND (2) – John W. Rogers Middle School, 100 Taunton Avenue and
Stewart Esten Elementary School, 733 Summer Street
SCITUATE – Scituate High School Gym, 606 Chief Justice Cushing Highway
WHITMAN – Whitman Town Hall, 54 South Avenue