Frequently Asked Questions
Below are questions and answers about the status of our High School. This is not exhaustive, but serves to continue our discussion about what to do about our failing High School facility.
Q: What is the problem with the Maynard High School facility?
A: Maynard High School (MHS) opened in 1962. More than 48 years later the school building and critical systems (heating, plumbing, electrical) have outlived their useful service life, thus the building can no longer support 21st century education. The building was expected to last 50 years so we have pushed the building to its breaking point. Because of the physical deficiencies the MHS has been placed on probation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and is in danger of losing accreditation. (See website for the full history and report of the MHS deficiencies)
Q: How have we addressed the problems?
A: To better understand the current structural issues, the Maynard School Committee hired Tappe Associates to conduct a School Facilities Strategic Planning Study. They confirmed the magnitude of the MHS deficiencies, in part helping Maynard to be considered for state funding through the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).
Q: What does MSBA funding mean and what do we need to do to qualify?
A: On April 9, 2009 the MSBA moved MHS to Feasibility Planning status, meaning in part that MSBA would pay a little over half of our planning costs and costs of a new or renovated school – if the community supports it. This also means that the State has set aside funding for the solution that resolves the issues at MHS.
Q: What are we voting on?
A: The next steps include gaining support from Town Meeting (likely to be Tuesday, Feb 9) for the “design” plan which is estimated to cost $700,000 to be confirmed by Maynard voters in a town wide ballot vote (likely to be Wednesday March 17). The voters of Maynard have previously approved the spending of $350,000 to hire an Owner’s Project Manager and TAPPE to come up with the best solution for MHS. While we know the approximate size of the building, and the number of classrooms, etc. needed, the design plan will provide the specifications which will allow us to solicit and compare bids.
Q: How would a “No” vote impact Maynard High School’s New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) accreditation and MSBA funding?
A: A “no” vote would put the school’s accreditation at risk. NEASC has placed Maynard High School on probation for not meeting present day standards for teaching and learning due specifically to the condition of the facility. If the High School’s accreditation were lost, our students would not have the same competitive edge when applying to colleges and universities as students from other accredited towns. As a result, Maynard would be viewed as a less desirable place to live, and that would definitely lead to lower property values. Additionally, if any of the upcoming votes fail, we will lose our current funding with MSBA (they send "our allocated money" back to the pool to be used by another town) and we have to start all over again to "get in line" with many other towns looking for the same money. This is "Our Moment" to fix the high school problem and get significant financial assistance from the state. If the residents of Maynard vote not to take advantage of this timely opportunity to receive reimbursement (est. 53%) from the Massachusetts State Building Authority (MSBA), FULL funding will have to come from Maynard taxpayers to make the High School a viable educational facility for our students. Our state taxes will be utilized to help other towns improve their school buildings.
Q: What is the estimated impact on each homeowner/year?
A: While we don’t have the final costs yet as we are still working with MSBA on the final school plan and design, it could be in the range of $44 million. For a reference, if it were $44 million and the state paid over half, the tax increase would be$384 a year for 20 years on the average house value of $326,602. We will have more specific costs once the plan is determined and the design plans completed.
Q: What will be the impact (financial and other) of doing the project today versus five years from now?
A: We may lose the opportunity to receive state funding. In addition, we would be required to spend money to improve the school facilities in the meantime to avoid losing accreditation.
Q: Is the $700,000 architectural design cost that we will be voting on at Town Meeting inclusive of design work through construction?
A: Yes
Q: When we looked at regionalizing, did we look at Assabet Valley Vocational School and is that an option?
A: A vocational education is different from the “typical” or “standard” education. Just as a “typical” education is not for everyone, a “vocational” education is not for everyone. The School Building Committee considered this option, but decided that it was not in the best interest of our students. The School Building Committee also pursued regionalization with Hudson, Concord-Carlisle, Lincoln-Sudbury, Nashoba, Acton-Boxborough and Littleton but determined there were no opportunities.
Q: Why do this now when the economy is struggling and we just voted for a new library and police station?
A: It is understood that this is not the ideal time to take a vote; however, the opportunity is too good to pass up. Having the ability to cure deficiencies in our district, while being reimbursed 53% is an opportunity that does not come up often. The MSBA has set aside money for Maynard’s project. A “no” vote at any point in the process will take that money from being set aside for Maynard and put it back in the pool of available funds for other towns to utilize. Given the fact that the MSBA will likely face funding problems in the future, we may lose the opportunity to have the state funding assistance. It is important to keep in mind that this problem will not go away, nor can it be solved without funding.
Q: Can we tuition or “choice out” our students to various other school systems?
A: “Tuitioning out” our students would mean negotiating Maynard slots in neighboring towns – for example Hudson would take 20, Concord would take 40, Littleton would take 50 and so on. This is not a feasible option. Given the space constraints in surrounding communities, they just don’t have the space. Further, they could have space for one year but not the next, leaving some of our kids with no school option. And finally, it would devastate our school and town community. Having a local school is a vital part of our sense of community, which would be lost if our children were sent to various surrounding schools.
Q: Does our High School meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?
A: No. Our current High School was built before the passage of the ADA. Under the American with Disabilities Act, when 30% of the assessed value has been invested in improvements, additions and new construction, the entire building must be brought up to today’s ADA building code (521 CMR Architectural Access Board). The assessed value of MHS is $3.6 million, 30% of which is $1.1 million. Therefore, if one improvement project were undertaken, such as replacing the windows, we would be required to make necessary ADA upgrades throughout the building. Finally, having an ADA compliant high school will allow all of our students to be included and fully participate in all of the high school programs and opportunities.
Q: What is the size of the school building being proposed (what number of student capacity)?
A: Final discussions are currently ongoing. We have been working with the demographer at the MSBA to make sure the size of the building and capacity will not only be sufficient for the current population of the High School but for future needs as well.
Q. What are the benefits to those with no children in the system?
A: Our community is strengthened when children have access to good education/facility. More families stay, laying roots and investing in Maynard thereby improving property values. Fewer students “choice out” to neighboring schools and more students “choice in” saving the town significant money as the town pays other communities when children “choice out”.
Q. If the new school is approved, is there a plan to properly maintain the building to keep it functioning as long as possible?
A. Yes. As part of the MSBA funding process the MSBA requires that we have a maintenance plan and person responsible for implementing this plan. If they are paying 53% of the cost, MSBA wants to ensure the school is properly maintained. Additionally, the School Committee and the Town has made a commitment to maintain all of our school and town buildings to the best the budget will allow us.
Q. If town approves the new MHS plan, when will the project be completed?
A. If the town supports the new High School, the School Building Committee has been working on a target plan of having construction completed by September 2013. At this stage of planning, this completion date is tentative.
Q: It seems like this issue has been going on for awhile and there have been multiple votes through this process. How many more votes are needed after this one (assuming it passes)?
A: There have been multiple votes throughout this process. This is because the process is dictated in part by the MSBA. At each stage there is a vote to ensure the town is backing the project and MSBA can ensure the town population is supportive.
After this set of votes, there will be one more round of voting left in the Fall of 2010. That will be the final set of votes (one town meeting, and one ballot question), to finalize the project and begin construction.