South Shore Regional School Committee Approves $276 Million Borrowing for New High School

District-wide vote on debt approval set for January 25, 2025

HANOVER, MA - November 20 - The South Shore Regional Vocational Technical High School Committee has authorized borrowing $276,449,480 for a new district high school project. The committee approved the measure during its November 20 meeting, along with a warrant for a district-wide debt approval election to be held on January 25, 2025.

The borrowing authorization and election warrant were approved unanimously by the committee members present. The vote marks a significant step forward in the district's plans to construct a new high school facility.

"I move that the school committee authorize the borrowing of $276,449,480 for the new district high school project in accordance with general law C-71-S-16-N and approve the election warrant as prepared by the district's bond council in the form submitted to the meeting," stated Jack Manning, member from Scituate.

The committee also voted to approve the MSBA (Massachusetts School Building Authority) project scope and budget agreement. This agreement is crucial for securing state funding support for the project.

Superintendent Director Dr. Hickey provided an update on the regional agreement amendment process, which is nearing completion. Several towns in the South Shore Regional Vocational Technical High School District are holding special town meetings to approve an amendment to the regional agreement.

"We were fortunate to have Scituate special town meeting this week approve the amendment," Dr. Hickey reported. He outlined the schedule for remaining town votes: "Tonight, we have Rockland special town meeting. We'll have Abington special town meeting on November 25th. And then the remaining communities will have town meetings on December 2nd, which is Whitman, December 9th, which is Hanover and Cohasset, and December 16th, which is Marshfield."

*editor’s note: Hanson, Scituate, Rockland, and Whitman approved the amendment. Abington failed to achieve a quorum and could not vote. Two more towns are required.

The MSBA Board of Directors met at the end of October to approve the project, as reported by Connor Sullivan of Left Field, the project management firm. "The MSBA board of directors met at the end of last month to approve the project. So that's great news," Sullivan said.

The district's Treasurer's report for October showed strong cash balances. Jim Coughlin, the district's treasurer, reported, "Overall, our cash balances are strong for the month of October. We do our November 1st, we do the billing for all of our member towns, which is about a little over $2 million per quarter."

The committee also approved invoices related to the project totaling $70,622.67 for September and October. These invoices were for services provided by DRA, the project architect, and Suffolk Construction.

In other business, the committee conducted a first reading of Title IX changes to the student handbook. This item was for informational purposes only and will be taken up for a vote at the December meeting.

The project's feasibility study phase is 80% complete in terms of budget expenditure, according to the update provided by Left Field.

The January 25 district-wide vote will be a crucial milestone for the project. If approved by voters, it will allow the district to move forward with the borrowing and construction of the new high school.