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"Main Entry View" of proposed Hanlon-Deerfield School, from School Board Meeting presentation dated September 10, 2021, "Westwood Public Schools Hanlon-Deerfield School Building Project."
10-07-2021 12:05pm
Last WPS Community Forum Before Vote on Proposed Hanlon-Deerfield School, Q & A Opportunity
Darlene Cancell
Editor
On Thursday, October 14, 2021 at 7 p.m., Westwood Public Schools will hold a Virtual Town Forum on the proposed new Hanlon-Deerfield school building project. It likely will be the last community-wide forum ahead of Westwood residents' vote this October on whether to fund the proposal.
Those interested in attending should register to participate. After registering, participants will be sent a confirmation email and link for joining the forum.
Presenters will be Ms. Emily Parks, Superintendent of Westwood Public Schools, and Ms. Maya Plotkin, who chairs both the School Committee and the School Building Committee.
Ms. Parks anticipates beginning the meeting with a 20 to 30 minute presentation that highlights the reasons for the new school building project, its process and design. Cost and estimated tax impact will be included. There will be an opportunity for the community to ask questions following the presentation.
She hopes that this last community forum will give community members all the information they need to make a well-informed decision. According to Superintendent Parks, there have been more than 75 public meetings on this issue to date.
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The proposal before Westwood voters is whether to incur debt to build a new school building that consolidates Hanlon and Deerfield schools at the location of the current Hanlon School on Gay Street. It would bring the schools up to code and add new spaces for community use. There would be indoor space for community meetings and a new, outdoor playing field.
The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) is agreeable to reimburse Westwood with a grant of up to $18.2 million of approved project costs, if Westwood votes to approve this building proposal. The estimated total project cost of $87.8 million includes $3.2 million that Westwood voters previously approved for a feasibility study and design costs.
On September 20, 2021, Westwood's Finance and Warrant Commission endorsed the proposed borrowing article by a 10-2 vote. The question will now be presented to town residents.
At a Special Town Meeting on October 18, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. at Westwood High School's Flahive Field, voters will decide on whether to borrow funds in the amount of $84.6 million (representing total cost of $87.8 million minus $3.2 million previously approved), with an expected reimbursement of up to $18.2 million from MSBA, for the new school building. A two-thirds majority vote is needed for the article to pass.
There is also a Special Town Election scheduled for October 26, 2021, with voting locations open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. At this election, voters will be presented with a ballot question of whether to allow the borrowing for the school building project to proceed as a debt exclusion from Proposition 2 1/2. Funding for Westwood High School and the Westwood Public Library are two examples of Westwood approving debt exclusion projects in the last 20 years.
Voters can check their polling locations here. Information on absentee ballots and early voting is available from the Town of Westwood.
Thanks to Superintendent Emily Parks for sharing information related to the Virtual Town Forum with Westwood Minute.
