Most voters support Belmonte Middle School debt exclusion

SAUGUS – Judith Flashman “went nuts” when she first saw the condition of the Belmonte Middle School when her polling location was moved there several years ago.Flashman voted Tuesday in support of a debt exclusion to renovate the middle school.?I was horrified,” said Flashman about the first time she saw the condition of the school. “I said, ?How in the hell can a teacher teach in this classroom or expect kids to learn in this condition?? What does it say to the children? There?s no pride? People don?t have any pride in their classroom?”Saugus voters went to the polls Tuesday to vote on a proposed debt exclusion to repair the Belmonte Middle School, which will cost a total of $18.9 million, with the Massachusetts School Building Authority reimbursing the town for 53 percent. The rest of the nearly $9 million price tag will be paid for by the debt exclusion, which will raise the tax levy for the average-priced home in town by around $60 a year, starting in 2016 and lasting for 20 years.The MSBA reimbursement was one of the reasons David Rossetti, 53, said he was voting for the debt exclusion.?The state is picking up a slight majority of it,” said Rossetti. “It?s been bad since when I was here about 40 years ago. It?s time.”Elana Houde, however, said she voted against the project because she is tired of her taxes going up every year.?There seems to be a prop(osition) two and a half in this town every year and I?m sick of them,” said Houde. “They should just plan out the budget and work it out.”Houde, who has no kids and admitted she hasn?t been in the school too often, said she does think the school is need of renovation, but doesn?t want to pay for it.?My property value is going down and I think each time it goes down they try to figure out another way to make up their revenue,” said Houde. “I think they can try to figure out what they need in full.”Paul DiBiasie Sr. was more blunt about the project, saying it?s like “putting perfume on a pig.”?I don?t feel the town will use the funds the way they?re supposed to be used,” said DiBiasie. “I think there?s a lot of things needed in the town. Just to dress up the front, they ought to tear the whole thing down and build a new one.”The repair project aims to improve the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and plumbing systems, while upgrading the windows, building facades and lighting. The plan also calls for electrical and energy efficiency improvements, along with updated communications and media systems.Kim De-crescenzo visited the Belmonte School to vote Tuesday with her 8-year-old son Domenic, and said she “absolutely” supports the project, even though her kids aren?t in the Saugus school system.?It?s important for the other kids to have a good school,” said Decrescenzo. “It needs work.”Keith McCabe said he voted for the project because a new school will directly affect his own kids.?I?ve got a fourth-grader who will be there in the near future,” said McCabe, a middle school teacher in Peabody. “And I?ve got a pre-schooler who will be here eventually.”Marnie Cocorochio also cited her kids as the reason she voted yes.?My daughter is here now and my son is coming up next year,” said Cocorochio. “I think it helps all of us for the school to be in better shape.”Joe Quinn went to Belmonte Middle School 30 years ago and said he thought it was important to vote for the project, even though he?s not a property owner.?The school is in pretty rough shape and it was when I went there,” said Quinn. “I don?t even have kids in the school system, but I just think it?s important.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected]. You can follow him on Twitter @MattTempesta.