AN INSIDE LOOK

What Does School Victory At The Polls Mean?

Overwhelming vote says more about the project than it does about the voters.

I really wasn’t sure I would live long enough to see it – but Norton has approved an exception to Proposition 2-1/2.  And because of it, the town’s high school will be a place where students can be properly prepared for the challenges of the 21st century. The vote at the polls Saturday was decisive, overwhelming and clear. Voters approved both debt exclusion questions by a better than 2-1 margin, with over 4,400 folks or just under 40 percent of registered voters casting ballots.  The turnout was smaller than predicted by some, but the margin left no doubt at all as to what the community wanted. This whole chapter in Norton’s history will be analyzed and scrutinized by those of us prone to doing that kind of thing, and conclusions will be …

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AN INSIDE LOOK

Voters Need To Put Up Or Shut Up

Tired of the same old complaints, columnist tells folks it's time to step up.

If you are looking for some politically correct dialogue here today – look elsewhere.  This columnist is ticked off, and it is time for some plain talk to the good citizens of Norton. I am tired of listening to certain complaints from Norton voters. So many of you (and I know it is not all of you) are just so full of yourselves. You want what you want in this town, but you don’t think you should have to work hard or get your hands dirty to get it. You want things done, but you don’t want to stoop to “politics” to accomplish them. You somehow think you are entitled to certain things, and seemed surprised and insulted when they aren’t handed to you. Well, get over yourselves. It is time the voters of this community got off their lazy butts …

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AN INSIDE LOOK

Explaining What A Debt Exclusion Really Is

Difference between a Debt Exclusion and an Override? Debt Exclusions are temporary.

With the Special Town Meeting and Special Election coming up next month for a debt exclusion for the high school building project, one of the most often asked and misunderstood questions around town is:  What is a proposition 2-1/2 debt exclusion, and how is it different from a proposition 2-1/2 override? The answer is relatively simple. Both a debt exclusion and an override will increase your property taxes, so there should be no misunderstanding there. The major difference is that with a debt exclusion, that increase eventually goes away, while an override is a permanent addition to a town’s tax levy limit. A debt exclusion is meant to finance a particular project. Your property taxes increase for a period of time, usually 10 to 20 years…

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High School Exterior Design Presented to School Committee

Design to be modern and more functional.

High School Building Committee member Kevin O’Neil revealed the exterior design plans for Norton High School to the school committee Monday night. While interior designs of the 32,000 square foot, two-floor addition have been available to the public through various informational meetings, displays during events in town and online, the exterior designs are fairly new. They show a modern looking front entrance with a lot of windows and even a potential area to showcase the artwork of students. The only changes to the interior design were made to the cafeteria, which will not extend underneath the second floor overhang and the size of the restroom and science preparation areas. The high school building project will go before voters June 6 at …

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High School Project in the Home Stretch

Schematic design due at the state board April 13.

On the heels of Wednesday's blessing given to the Norton High School addition and renovation project by the Massachusetts School Building Authority, project proponents are shifting into high gear preparing for further state requirements and a full-fledged community education effort. The MSBA announced this week Norton has advanced into the "schematic design phase" of the process, and now can work closely with the state committee to tailor the design of the reconfigured classrooms and two-story addition to both the needs of the town and the requirements of the state. The complete schematic design is due at the state board on April 13. Greg Smolley of JCJ Architecture told selectmen on Thursday that his firm is about halfway through the …

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AN INSIDE LOOK

Moderator Answers More Town Meeting Questions

This is Part Two of answering questions about Norton's upcoming Town Meetings.

This is Part Two in a series of columns designed to answer some of your questions about Norton’s upcoming Town Meetings, and just Town Meeting in general. Your town government works best when people understand how it operates and participate in it. To that end, I’ll try and continue answering some questions about this institution so peculiar to New England. So just when is Town Meeting going to be now?  Well, the Annual Town Meeting will be May 9.  There will be many important articles, including every town department’s budget. The school building article will NOT be acted upon at this meeting, and instead will appear on the warrant of a Special Town Meeting to be held June 6. Why are there two meetings in the space of a month?  Ask the …

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Busy Spring for Town Voters

Norton residents face two town meetings and two elections.

Norton residents face two town meetings and two elections this spring, a rare event made necessary by the school department's proposal to renovate the aging high school. Selectmen decided to hold the two separate town meetings last week, after trying to work out a way to efficiently conduct a spring town meeting that would attract thousands of residents because of the school proposal. The first meeting will be on Monday, May 9, at the high school, beginning at 7 p.m. The warrant will include the articles pertaining to business usually conducted at the Annual Town Meeting. The special within the annual that deals with outstanding prior years' bills and items that need immediate attention, will begin at 8 p.m. that night. “We will call for a…

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AN INSIDE LOOK

Town Meeting voters Shouldn't Forget Budget

With building project upcoming, voters must remember the budget.

With an override vote coming up in June, supporters of education in town will rightfully be largely focused on that important issue. But there will be another critical vote most likely coming up before that – a vote on the school budget and just how much it will be. In recent years school spending has decreased, and the system is feeling the strain of that funding loss. This year does not appear to offer much in the way of relief, with the state planning to cut local aid (although they will manipulate things to appear to be contributing more for education). Cities and towns are going to be more strapped for cash than ever before, while property taxpayers will still be shouldering an immense burden. It is entirely likely both the general …

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AN INSIDE LOOK

School Override Hinges On Political Skills

Facts and numbers are important, but politics is what will decide the issue.

School supporters have a very difficult task on their hands as the issue of renovating and constructing an addition to Norton High School nears a couple of votes this June. Their job can basically be divided into two parts – the informational process, and the political process. School supporters and officials certainly need to get the facts and numbers out there. The cost, the impact on property taxpayers, the impact on students, the improvements to the educational system, the availability of state aid – all those are critical aspects of getting the proposal they favor approved. But just as critical is the political aspect of this project. The truth is, they can have the best plan in the world, have it make the most sense, and have every …

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Bill Gouveia

5:57 pm on Tuesday, March 15, 2011

You know Tom, it's all perspective. You can say "Gee, I keep leading that horse to water and he just won't drink!" In the meantime, the horse can be saying "Gee, I don't want water and that guy keeps leading me to it!" It all depends on whether you are the leader or the horse. The trick is not to try and get the horse to drink the water. The trick is to try and convince the horse he's thirsty. …   more ›

AN INSIDE LOOK

School Project Differs From Previous Plans

But in the end, taxpayers must still shoulder the burden

When Norton voters hear there is a proposed Debt Exclusion Override of Proposition 2-1/2 for the purpose of constructing and renovating one of our schools, many of them may have the reaction “Here we go again." But the truth is this proposed project and the reasons for it differ considerably from the previous attempts to override Prop 2-1/2. While that may not ultimately matter to some, it should matter to the voters and citizens determined to make an informed decision. This proposal is different because it has little to do with planning for the future – odd as that may sound. Earlier school plans sought to prepare for an expected growth in student population. This plan to renovate and add on to the existing 40-year-old high school is in …

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