What is the project?
Abington is one of nine South Shore member towns in the South Shore Regional Vocational District. The District is proposing a new school building project to accommodate up to 900 students and provide space for 14 career technical programs. The project has been invited into the Massachusetts School Building Authority grant program, making the district eligible for up to 60% reimbursement of eligible costs. Read more in a briefing bulletin of the project.
What is the project cost?
Total Cost: $276 Million
District Cost: $166 - 168 Million
Remaining cost paid for by Massachusetts School Building Authority
How is the project funded?
Each town is responsible for a portion of the funding based on their enrollment. The current regional agreement fixes the debt based on each town’s enrollment at time of authorization. Article 1 on our Special Town Meeting Warrant would amend the current agreement to adjust the debt shares for each town based on a four year rolling average to account for fluctuations of enrollment over time.
If the project is approved, Abington would be responsible for funding its portion of the project by approving a debt exclusion, a tax override or by reallocating funding in its annual budget.
How does this impact Abington?
Article 1 on the November Special Town Meeting Warrant would amend the Project’s cost agreement among each of the nine South Shore Technical School Committee community members so that each town's share of debt will be calculated to allow for changes in student enrollment over time. The base debt for each community will be the community's percentage of students in Fiscal Year 2025.
Will residents vote on this?
On January 25, 2025, there will be a single ballot election in all nine member towns. This is not a town-specific vote, but rather an aggregate vote combining the votes from all nine towns. If the project is approved, each town will determine how it will fund its share of the project.
How do I learn more?
South Shore Vocational Technical High School is very communicative about the project. They have created several tools to help explain the project and process. Including a Four Page Bulletin and a standalone project website.
Participate in their virtual public forum meeting on December 17 at 7PM. South Shore Technical High School Public Forum Meeting via Zoom. Join via Zoom using the link below. https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81078150807
Please direct any questions to the project email: info@southshoretechproject.com.