School Building Committee Sees Potential Path Going Forward

Medfield MA

08 November, 2021

7:27 PM

Description

School Building Committee Sees Potential Path Going Forward At the Special Town Meeting (STM) held on Sunday, November 7, the voters of Medfield met to consider the article to approve a new elementary school, to be located near the Wheelock School. This vote, the first of two required to approve the building and funding of the school, required a ⅔ majority to pass. The final count was 1,118 in favor, and 752 opposed — or 60 percent in favor. Since the ⅔ threshold was not met, the article did not pass. "We are grateful to all those who turned out to support the new school project," said Anna Mae O'Shea Brooke, School Building Committee Member. "This narrow margin shows that there is strong support for the project, and I'm hopeful that we can have a decisive turnout for the Special Town Election on November 15th. We recognize that attendance in-person can be difficult at the STM, and we feel that there is majority support in the town for the project." Even though the article did not receive the required 66%, the Special Town Election must still occur. Voting will be held on Monday, November 15th at The Center at Medfield from 6am-8pm. The ballot question asks voters to approve a Proposition 2.5% Debt Exclusion to fund the annual payments for the new school. "Whether you were able to attend the Special Town Meeting or not," continued O'Shea Brooke, "please take the time to make your voice heard in the Town Election on the 15th. A strong turnout in favor of the new school - in other words, a YES vote - would be an important signal that the majority of Medfield voters would support re-voting on the proposed school project at another Special Town Meeting. It will give us some options in the next 120 days." While the STM vote did not pass, the MSBA process allows for a town to re-vote on "substantially the same project" (small changes are permitted, but that does NOT include changing the site of the project) within 120 days of a failed vote. One way to make clear that Medfield voters DO want to move forward with this school project is for everyone to vote in the Town Election. Unlike Town Meeting, voting takes place all day at The Center at Medfield on One Ice House Road from 6AM until 8PM. People with questions on the proposed new school can email [email protected] , and more information can be found on the project website at http://www.tinyurl.com/mednewschool.