Voters Approve $1.75M Feasibility Study for Aging Alden School
Key Points
- $1.75 million feasibility study approved for Alden School
- School officials cite major flooding and HVAC failures in 1949 building
- Study qualifies Duxbury for potential 35% state reimbursement
- Average tax impact of $65 per year for three years
Town Meeting members voted overwhelmingly to begin the process of addressing the deteriorating Alden School. Article 12 appropriates $1,750,000 for a feasibility study, with $1,450,000 of that amount to be borrowed. The study is part of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) process, which could lead to a 35.42% reimbursement for the town.
Building Committee Chair John Lemieux explained the study would explore several paths: repair only, renovation, addition, or a new building.
Superintendent Danielle Klingaman and librarian Jen Burns described significant facility failures, including water flooding into the library and frozen heating coils during power outages. Water is a major problem at our building. It comes down, it comes up, it comes in from the side,
Burns said.
The tax impact for the study is estimated at approximately $65 per year for three years for the average Duxbury home. The motion passed with 93% of the vote.
Motion: To appropriate $1,750,000 for the study, with $1,450,000 to be borrowed.
Vote: Passed 93% Yes - 7% No