South Shore Tech's $276 Million Building Project Heads to January 25 Vote
Residents of nine towns to decide fate of proposed new vocational school
HANOVER - December 17 - A $276 million project to build a new South Shore Technical High School will go before voters in nine member towns on Jan. 25, 2025. The single-day vote will determine whether the regional vocational school can move forward with plans to construct a 250,000-square-foot facility to serve 900 students.
South Shore Tech Superintendent Tom Hickey presented details of the proposed project during a recent public forum. The new school would replace the current 62-year-old building in Hanover, which Hickey described as "overcrowded and inefficient."
"Our school is undersized to meet demands, our building systems are outdated and inefficient, and generally there are no modern common spaces for which we can accommodate student and the student needs of today," Hickey said.
The Massachusetts School Building Authority has committed to reimburse up to 60% of eligible costs, which Hickey said could save district towns over $110 million off the $276 million project. Without state funding, repairs to the existing building could cost $140-150 million with no reimbursement.
Plans call for constructing the new school on the current athletic fields behind the existing building on Webster Street. The three-story design would house 14 career technical programs, including two new offerings in veterinary science and plumbing.
Hickey emphasized the project's potential to address capacity issues, noting South Shore Tech currently turns away over 40% of applicants due to space constraints.
"We have a student waiting list of around 100 students a year, and as of today, we're closing in on about 400 applications for about 180 seats in our ninth grade class," he said.
The new facility would feature updated vocational spaces, flexible learning areas and improved security. Renderings show a dining commons, multipurpose auditorium and gymnasium designed to resemble a barn structure.
If approved, construction would begin in April 2026 with an anticipated opening for the 2028-29 school year. The existing school would be demolished after the new building opens.
Hickey said the project team has planned to minimize disruptions during construction.
"From an instructional point of view, this model will not require us to spend money on modular rentals or anything of that sort," he said.
The Jan. 25 vote will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in all nine member towns: Abington, Cohasset, Hanover, Hanson, Marshfield, Norwell, Rockland, Scituate and Whitman. The aggregate vote total across all communities will determine if the project is approved.
If passed, each town would then decide how to fund its share of the costs. Hickey said most communities would likely pursue a debt exclusion vote in spring 2025 or soon after.
Project information, including tax impact estimates by town, will be posted on the district's website. Hickey said he plans to continue community outreach efforts leading up to the vote.
"I would welcome feedback from anybody participating or watching this webinar if they have any suggestions about other places that we could go in order to continue to raise awareness about this project," he said.
Residents can vote on Jan. 25 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at designated polling locations in each member town. Absentee voting will also be available. For more information, visit the project website at southshoretechproject.com.
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
Public forum video available via South Shore Tech’s YouTube page.