SAUGUS ― Monday night, the town officials debated raising the sum money costs for the construction of the proposed Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School (Northeast Metro Tech) in Wakefield.
During a special town meeting held over Zoom due to COVID-19 protocols, the town administrators discussed whether to vote for approval or rejection to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the costs attributable to constructing the facility at 100 Hemlock Road in Wakefield.
“At the end of the day we are all in this together; I live in this town, you live in this town (and) this is a great opportunity for our students,” Town Manager Scott Crabtree said to town officials during the meeting.
After going back and forth, many town administrators agreed that the option of allowing residents of Saugus to vote may be a better option than a decision by town officials Monday night.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that needs to happen,” said Crabtree, in reference to the school’s construction.
On Sept. 2, the Northeast Metro Tech Superintendent David DiBarri and the school’s building committee announced that the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) awarded the district a grant of up to $140.8 million for a new building.
Northeast Metro Tech looks to build a new facility after operating in a 50-plus-year-old building, according to a statement from the school.
“The new school will address the current facility’s outdated building systems, including much-needed ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessibility and code compliance upgrades, in addition to overcrowding,” said the school in a statement.
The school also said the enrollment will grow from 1,270 students to 1,600 students ― a 26 percent increase, according to the school. “This is expected to dramatically shorten the district’s annual waitlist, which averages 400 students,” said Northeast Metro Tech.
The overall cost of the project is estimated to be $317.4 million. The district had 120 days to receive support from the 12 communities it would draw students from, which left the deadline for confirmations of support Dec. 23.
According to Northeast Metro Tech administrators, Saugus sends 170 students to the school. The community would be responsible for a $23.4 million share of the costs, which would result in approximately $1.3 million annually for the next 30 years under the present bonding plan for the project, according to the administrators.
Saugus Precinct 2 resident Chris Riley, a Northeast Metro Tech alumnus, told Crabtree that he felt certain that going forward with the school was the right choice.
“I don’t think there’s anyone who doesn’t want this, but no one here and now has a decision right now for moving forward,” he said.
The results of the vote were not made available at press time. Check back to itemlive.com for updates on this story.
Hannah Chadwick can be reached at [email protected].
