I just spent a fun-filled few minutes at notthepta.org. A couple of folks referred to the future of the Wing building complex. Below is an article by yours truly that was published in your favorite turtle cage liner over three and a half years ago. Your dedicated readers also appear to have missed the point that the FY15 budget includes $75K for a Wing re-lifing study. We remain on track although my six month, mentioned at the end of the article, appears to have become 4-5 years :-) The inertia in this form of government can never be over-estimated. But, to quote Winston Churchill, "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for everything else we've tried."
My crystal ball proved reasonably accurate. Please feel free to "reprint" the article with reference to its original publication date, if you like.
LET'S FIND OUR 2020 VISION
During the week of February 14 the final piece in a giant puzzle was placed face up on the table for the selectmen and school committee. Now all those pieces have to be assembled into a Capital Asset Plan for Sandwich.
Cost estimates were presented for making the Wing complex serviceable as a school long term. There are basically three alternatives. The complex can be renovated for $30 million. New construction coupled with renovation would cost $40 million. A whole new school can be built for $50 million. The consultant also pointed out that the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) will reemburse about half the cost. The estimates were escalated because construction cannot begin until 2014.
If one of these paths is followed, the voters of Sandwich will be asked to borrow between $15-25 million to have a fourth school building in place in time for the 2015-2016 school year. The problem is, at least as I see it, Sandwich will not need four school buildings. The voters may have good reason to want a fourth school building. That is distinct from needing one.
The school enrollment as of October 1, 2010 was just over 3400. That is down 800 from the peak in 2002. The classes in the high school today average about 260. The entering kindergarten classes over the next four years, based on 2010 census data, will average about 210. Each of the next four years about 260 students will graduate while 210 are entering kindergarten. Consequently, enrollment goes down 50 students per year.
