Swampscott board opts only to explain funding of new elementary school

SWAMPSCOTT – Finance Committee members agreed that when the new elementary school goes to Town Meeting for a vote, they will not be taking a stand.The question of whether or not to make a direct recommendation came up after the School Building Committee voted a week ago to build a district-wide elementary school on the Swampscott Middle School grounds. Finance Committee members unanimously decided to be a part of the finance aspect of the proposed school in regards to explain to voters how it will be funded and fit into the capital plan, rather than tell voters what they should choose first at Town Meeting and then on the ballot.Committee member Cinder McNerney said it was more of a personal decision for residents, to which Chairman Don Pinkerton agreed.?For some, the opinion of the Finance Committee carries a lot of weight. This decision is for the education of children of our town,” said Pinkerton. He added that he personally didn?t know how he felt about the project yet.In looking at a draft of the town?s five-year budget plan, committee members also realized they must bring to light other financial costs of the new elementary school besides the estimated $38 million, like looming renovations of the Clarke School to prepare it for preschool and kindergarten grades, and bringing the middle school up to code. McNerney mentioned that the sale of the Hadley School could offset the costs down the line.