School's Future: Decision Time Is Now

After months of discussion, Dorchester-area voters tomorrow (Sept. 11) will finally get the opportunity to decide the fate of the Dorchester school building -- and perhaps the future of District 44. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Tomorrow's special election on a $4 million renovation plan for the school comes after a recent study found that school's main structure -- built in 1927 -- has a long list of problems requiring action in the near future. Included in the list were multiple structural issues such as lack of fire sprinklers; fire barriers between hallways and classrooms; boiler room concerns; deteriorating electrical systems; and problems with exit stairs and rails. Other concerns noted by engineers included inadequate classroom space, leaking ceilings, no vertical access for handicap students, highly inefficient plumbing and heating, indoor air quality concerns, and foundation and wall problems.

After review of the study findings, Dorchester school board president Brad Havlat said the board believed that putting any additional money into the 1927 school building was "not a wise way to spend public tax dollars."

A recent Times poll found that the majority of readers -- 71.6 percent -- said the project would be approved. However, a sizable 28.6 percent predicted the expansion project would be denied by District 44 voters. The survey of 105 readers was conducted from Aug. 26 through Sept. 3.

The $3.9 million improvement plan would completely revamp the school campus, with a new building replacing the 1927 structure and current portable classrooms. New additions would surround the 1963 gymnasium. The additions would provide space for an elementary attendance center, an administrative wing for supervision and modern rooms for high school classes. Also, the addition would provide full-sized rooms for wrestling teams and weight training.

Critics of the plan charge that the renovation project would increase property taxes too much, and that student enrollment figures and current conditions do not justify the cost.

Supporters of the project say that if the improvements are not made now, taxpayers will be forced to continue to pay too much for the maintenance of an deteriorating, inefficient building. Also, proponents contend that a few years from now, the conditions of the school will force taxpayers to spend twice as much for the same work -- or to spend $25 million or more for the construction of a consolidated school, which would also result in the loss of local control for Dorchester residents.

Earlier this year, school officials estimated that the current improvement proposal, under a 25-year bond authority, would cost taxpayers approximately 20.5 cents per $100 -- or about $205 per $100,000 of evaluation. That would result in an extra $17.08 per month in extra property taxes for a $100,000 home in the Dorchester school district. (The average Dorchester home is valued at $60,000, according to the Census Bureau.)