Project to cost about $95,000 total.
It was recently announced that Norton is eligible for a school repair project from the Massachusetts School Building Authority. The Sun Chronicle reports that the J. C. Solmonese Elementary School will be getting a new air-conditioning system. The project will cost about $95,000 total and will still need to go before Town Meeting. Norton is one of 24 schools in the MSBA program.
School Committee member Deniz Savas responds to latest column by Bill Gouveia.
THIS LETTER TO THE EDITOR IS IN RESPONSE TO BILL GOUVEIA'S COLUMN: Luck, Timing Bad For School Committee Lately Bill, You couldn't be more right. It does seem like luck and timing have it in for the School Committee these days. It’s unfortunate that the MSBA is unable to meet to ratify our reimbursement rate before the Town Meeting, however it will meet before the ballot vote. Since you would need to vote YES at both the Town Meeting and at the polls, we will know the outcome before the final vote. I believe you are correct that there is an effort to have the Article reworded to incorporate the MSBA ratification vote on the approved reimbursement rate. Hopefully that will get done to further put the minds of our neighbors at ease. …
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As the big vote approaches, the school committee has not had the best week.
The Norton School Committee either has very bad luck, or very little political skill. Or maybe it’s a bit of both. The committee was informed this week that the Massachusetts School Building Authority has postponed their next meeting from May 25 to June 8. That is significant in that one of the purposes of that meeting is to finalize and approve the reimbursement rate of 64.42 percent set for Norton’s high school building project. School officials have been touting the fact the reimbursement rate would be set in stone prior to the Town Meeting vote on June 6, but it appears that will now not be the case. In fairness, the MSBA vote appears to be just a formality. There is almost no chance the reimbursement rate will change, and the vote …
4:43 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
How long has the School Commitee known about Dr. Ansay's retirement? A search committee should have been in place a week after her retirement announcement and that hire would then have the whole summer to have the transition phase. I am not saying whether I am for or against this because I think Dr. Ansay has done a better job then her predecessor did, especially in this town with a very tight … more ›
Project to go before voters this June.
TO THE EDITOR: It is my hope that at this point most Norton residents are aware of the High School Renovation Project opportunity. If not, now is the time to get informed. If you do, you will quickly and easily see how this project can benefit us all in so many ways. Ensuring this project moves forward is important for all residents, whether you have children in the school system or not. It is common knowledge that the Norton High School is in dire need of improvement. The building is 40 years old and has insufficient space for students and equipment, inefficient heating/electrical systems, outdated science labs, insufficient facilities to support today’s technology–and this list goes on. If you are unfamiliar with the extent to which …
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Sewer connection needed for project to move forward.
The High School Building Committee made a presentation Tuesday night, notifying the public of changes made in the cost, proposed design of Norton High School and the questions being asked at the June 6 Special Town Meeting for the June 11 ballot vote. The Schematic Design submittal is due Friday, April 15 to the MSBA, and this meeting summarized that submittal. The most recent price tag for the project is $32,700,000 before MSBA reimbursement. With a 58 percent contribution, it will cost the Town of Norton $14,067,500. Up to 62 percent could be reimbursed. When that agreement [scope and budget] is negotiated, we will know exactly what the reimbursement rate is,” said project manager Margaret Wood of Pinck & Co., noting that the rate will …
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A region roundup of news for Friday, April 1.
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Producing detailed renderings of the potential addition and renovation project the next step.
The Board of Directors of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) voted to move Norton High School into the Schematic Design Phase. State Treasurer Steven Grossman, chairman of the MSBA and Katherine Craven, MSBA executive director, made the announcement today. The Schematic Design phase is the next step towards potential funding. Now the Town of Norton will work in collaboration with the MSBA to produce detailed renderings of the potential addition and renovation project at Norton High School. “This is a very exciting stage in the MSBA process," Grossman said. "The schematic designs that will be produced will give us our first look at the improved Norton High School. They will help us narrow the scope and budget of the project…
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Members say cost will not get cheaper, reimbursement will not get higher.
After recent meetings for the high school renovation and addition project, there has been some feedback from the public, but no one has said to go back to the drawing board. People, the look on their faces was amazing when you told them there were no fire sprinklers in the high school. Their jaw just dropped and they said ‘you’re kidding me.’ They weren’t required when it was built. We haven’t been required to retrofit them so this is the time to do it,” School and Building Committee Tom Golota said. He also noted that the plans will make for a safer entrance into the high school. The way it is set up now, people in the main office cannot see who is at the door when they buzz them in. And even after people are buzzed in, they can move …
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This debt relief payment is for the construction of Norton Middle School.
State Treasurer Steven Grossman, chairman of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) and Katherine Craven, MSBA executive director, announced yesterday that the MSBA has made a $9,464,458 payment to the Town of Norton. This payment was made to help the town reduce its remaining debt from the construction of the Norton Middle School, which opened in 1998. This payment replaces eight annual payments the MSBA would have made to the town over the next eight fiscal years. “We are happy to be able to help Norton by making this debt relief payment to assist in paying down the debt from the Norton Middle School,” Grossman said. “The MSBA is constantly looking for innovative ways to help communities build, maintain and finance school …
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Subcommittee met with Norton town representatives.
On Wednesday, the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s (MSBA) Facility Assessment Subcommittee -- including State Treasurer Steven Grossman and executive director Katherine Craven -- met with representatives from the Town of Norton and their consultants to review progress made on the plans for the proposed addition and renovation project at Norton High School. The subcommittee is composed of members of the MSBA’s Board of Directors and meets regularly to hear district presentations regarding proposed projects and provide feedback to districts before a project is presented to the full board for its consideration. A review by the Facility Assessment Subcommittee is a critical milestone on the path to full approval by the MSBA Board of …
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Bill Gouveia
11:01 am on Thursday, May 26, 2011
And as an aside - I would not want the job you folks have for any reason! Thank you and the other members for all you do and for volunteering your time. It is a tough job, and you can never make everyone happy. more ›