Saugus middle school debt exclusion passes

SAUGUS – Voters overwhelmingly passed the Belmonte Middle School debt exclusion Tuesday night by a vote of 2,994 to 1,854, which means the renovation project could start in June.The measure passed with 56 percent of the residents voting yes and 35 percent voting no.School Committee Chair Wendy Reed said work will start immediately on moving the project forward, starting with having the vote certified for the Massachusetts School Building Authority.”The question passed which was the most important,” said Reed, who also won re-election Tuesday. “I feel really good about that. Tonight I have to call the project manager ? and then eventually we’ll have a (construction manager) on board.”The vote means there will be a roughly $9 million debt exclusion to pay for the project, which costs $18.9 million total. The MSBA will reimburse the town with 53 percent of the costs. Starting in 2016, the tax levy for the average-priced home will increase by around $60 per year for 20 years until the debt is paid off.The repair plan calls for improvements to the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and plumbing systems, along with upgrades to the windows, building facades and lighting. There will also be electrical and energy efficiency improvements along with improved communications and media systems.Arthur Grabowski, who won his second term on the School Committee, said he hopes to see bids sent out for the project in December.”I imagine we’ll have a meeting very quickly and we’ll certify the vote to the MSBA that the vote passed,” said Grabowski. “That will allow the architects to do all the final plans and then go out for bid. The bidding process will probably start around December.Grabowski said bids would most likely be opened around February or March, and ideally construction would begin immediately after school ends for the summer.Corinne Riley sat on the Belmonte Renovation Committee and said the vote was all due to their hard work.”The Question 1 Committee did a phenomenal job getting the word out there,” said Riley. “And the Belmonte Renovation Committee was incredible. We’re thrilled it was passed.”The Belmonte Renovation Committee met numerous times throughout the summer with project managers and architects to hammer out the final plans for submission to the MSBA, which approved the project at the end of September.The MSBA also approved the majority of the project alternates, including gym floor and bleacher replacement, refinishing the stage floor, improved data systems, new student lockers and security improvements to the main office and entrance.Michelle Heffernan voted at Veterans Elementary School Tuesday and said she voted yes because the town needs to support its school system.”I think we need to improve the schools in any way we possibly can,” said Heffernan, who took her 3- and 4-year-old kids with her to vote. “I’m a teacher myself and I think early education is extremely important. If the kids don’t have a safe environment to learn in, they’re not going to get the basics that they need.”Hellen Prizio has lived in Saugus for 50 years, and even though her kids have all moved on from Saugus schools, she said the school needs to be fixed for future students.”I think the kids need some assistance on that because it’s in really rough shape,” said Prizio, who was voting at the Veterans School. “All of my kids are all graduated already, but it’s needed for all of the kids coming in.”School Committee member Joe Malone said he was confident the vote would pass.”I had no doubt,” said Malone. “There was no organized opposition to it. It just made common sense. To reject (it) would have been penny wise and pound foolish. It’s a great thing for the town. Everyone in town goes to that middle school. With the renovations we’re going to make, it should last for a long time.”Saugus saw a 32 percent voter turnout overall Tuesday, with close to 5,500 residents voting out of 17,137 registered voters.Matt Tempesta can be reached at Mtempesta@