KINGSTON - January 8, 2026 - Facing a staggering $73 million in deferred maintenance for the region’s two main school buildings, the Silver Lake Regional School Committee voted to pursue a bold financial strategy: shifting expiring debt payments directly into a capital stabilization fund. The plan, championed by Committee Member Jason Fraser, aims to fund decades of repairs without raising the current tax rate for residents in Halifax, Kingston, and Plympton.
The Full Story
In a presentation that he warned might sound like a “Ross Perot” chart-fest, Committee Member Jason Fraser laid out the stark reality facing the district. The middle and high school buildings—the “two most valuable pieces of real estate” owned collectively by the three towns, valued at over $500 million—are in need of critical care.
An engineering firm recently assessed the campus and identified $73 million in necessary repairs to keep the buildings viable. Fraser presented three options to the committee:
Do Nothing/Crisis Management: Risk catastrophic failure (e.g., HVAC failure closing the school) and eventually face a $400 million bill for new buildings.
Traditional Bonding: Borrow $60 million now, which would spike taxes across the three towns.
The “Net Zero” Stabilization Plan: Capture approximately $1.3 million in annual debt service payments that are set to expire this year and next. Instead of letting that tax burden drop off, the towns would vote to keep the payment level and direct it into a dedicated “Silver Lake Stabilization Fund” for capital repairs.
“My proposal... is that this year we put $700,000 into the Silver Lake Regional Schools budget in the Silver Lake stabilization line for capital expenses,” Fraser said. He argued that because residents are already accustomed to paying this debt service, continuing the payment to fund repairs would have a “net zero impact on the taxpayers.”
“If we ever move a single cent of that money [for non-capital purposes], I think we should all resign. This is going to take some trust.” — Jason Fraser, on the need for strict ring-fencing of the proposed capital funds. [01:05:46]
The committee voted unanimously to authorize Fraser to present this plan to the Select Boards and Finance Committees of Halifax, Kingston, and Plympton. They also voted to include the $700,000 placeholder in the FY27 budget.
Course Changes: AI and Engineering Before the financial heavy lifting, the committee focused on innovation in the classroom. The committee approved several changes to the Program of Studies, including a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) course.
“We’re in the wild west right now of AI,” Fraser noted during the discussion. “Having a course where we can put some guardrails... and having an instructor guide students through this I think is a wise move.”
The meeting also featured a showcase of the “Capstone” engineering course, where students presented prototypes they built to solve real-world problems. Projects included a wrist-buzzer system to combat “alarm fatigue” for lifeguards and an integrated ankle brace shoe for volleyball players to prevent injuries and save money on equipment.
Why It Matters
For taxpayers in the Silver Lake district, this proposal represents a pivotal moment. If the towns agree to the “Net Zero” plan, residents will not see a decrease in their tax bills as old school debt is paid off, but they will avoid the massive tax spikes associated with a new $60 million bond or a future $400 million school replacement project. For parents and students, it means securing the physical safety and operation of the schools without the threat of emergency closures due to infrastructure failure.
Official Minutes & Data
Key Motions & Votes
Approve Consent Agenda (Inc. $1.2M in Grants):
Motion: To approve minutes, warrants, and acceptance of grants.
Outcome: Passed Unanimously [03:18]
Nutrition Services Funding:
Motion: To continue funding the Nutrition Services Director position from the revolving account rather than the operating budget.
Outcome: Passed Unanimously [03:59]
Approve Wellness/PE Course Changes:
Motion: To accept the new elective-based model for PE (Competitive Games, Lifetime Activities, Personal Fitness).
Outcome: Passed Unanimously [35:27]
Approve AI Course & Semester Changes:
Motion: To accept the proposed AI course and shift Robotics to a semester course.
Outcome: Passed Unanimously [39:28]
Remove AP European History:
Motion: To remove AP European History from the program of studies due to low enrollment.
Outcome: Passed Unanimously [44:22]
Stabilization Fund Strategy:
Motion: To authorize Jason Fraser to engage with town boards on the capital proposal and to include $700,000 in the stabilization line of the FY27 budget.
Outcome: Passed Unanimously [01:12:10]
2026-2027 School Calendar:
Motion: To accept the proposed calendar (start date, professional development on election days).
Outcome: Passed Unanimously [01:24:32]
Public Comment
No specific public comment from the audience was recorded during the open session, though student presentations dominated the first half of the meeting.
What’s Next
Budget Hearings: The committee will hold a formal budget hearing at the next meeting.
Town Tour: Jason Fraser will begin visiting the Select Boards and Finance Committees of Halifax, Kingston, and Plympton to pitch the capital funding plan.
Superintendent Evaluation: The committee will begin reviewing the Superintendent’s contract and goals.
Source Video: Area58_Halifax