Other towns use single ballot spot; tech school paying election costs
UPDATED, Aug. 2: The warrant for the unprecedented districtwide Minuteman election Sept. 20 calls for single polling locations in 14 towns — but multiple locations in Arlington and Belmont.
Officers of the Minuteman School Committee approved the warrant on Monday, Aug. 1, for the districtwide election that will decide bonding for a new Minuteman High School. The warrant was prepared by Minuteman’s administration in consultation with town clerks and boards of selectmen in the district’s 16 member towns.
To keep down election expenses, Minuteman had asked the towns to designate just one polling place. But Arlington and Belmont both asked the district to allow them to use all of their regular polling places, and the Minuteman School Committee officers approved their requests. According to the warrant, Arlington will use its 10 polling locations; Belmont will use its usual seven, Minuteman said in a news release.
YourArlington asked Marie Krepelka, selectmen’s administrator, about the estimated cost of the election, and on Aug. 2 she put it at about $35,000 for Arlington, noting that Minuteman is paying it all.
The warrant now must be signed by a majority of the Minuteman School Committee and posted in the 16 member towns.
Last week, Minuteman officials met with town clerks from member towns, reviewing the mechanics of the election, answering questions and outlining how Minuteman would handle reimbursement of costs to the towns. Since the election is being called by Minuteman, the district will pay the reasonable costs related to it.
The special election, to be held Tuesday, Sept. 20, from 12 noon to 8 p.m., was called by the Minuteman School Committee to determine whether district voters support or oppose bonding for a new school. The districtwide aggregate count of “yes” and “no” votes will determine the result, with the majority prevailing.
State law allows regional vocational school districts to secure local bonding approval either through their local Town Meetings or by a districtwide referendum. Minuteman initially tried the Town Meeting route, and received approval from all except Belmont, on May 4.
On June 27, the School Committee voted to put the question directly to the district’s voters pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 71, Section 16(n).
The project cost of the high school is $144.9 million. The Massachusetts School Building Authority, the state agency that oversees school-building projects, has approved a $44 million grant to help offset the cost to local taxpayers.
In addition, the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education approved a change in state regulations to enable Minuteman to charge a capital fee to nonmember communities that send students to Minuteman.
Minuteman started working on the MSBA Feasibility Study in 2009.
In November of 2012, the New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC) placed Minuteman’s accreditation on “Warning” status because of the condition of its building.
This announcement was published Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, and updated Aug. 2.
