Letter to the Editor: The Estimate Was Too Low

The community of North Reading did everything right.  WE recognized deficiencies in our current MS and HS facilities. WE voted overwhelmingly to leave a legacy of terrific structures; two schools combined with carefully thought out and well designed interiors conducive to 21^st century learning.

We knew that these facilities, combined with outstanding teachers and administration, and excellent standards in education, were an investment we would stand behind 100 percent. WE knew that this was a tremendous financial obligation, and despite economic troubles and government uncertainties, WE VOTED YES.  We voted with our knowledge, our pockets, our hearts, and our best intentions.  WE VOTED YES.  WE voted to invest in education.  We said YES to our community, we said YES to our children.  WE listened, we learned, we offered suggestions, concerns, solutions, and in the end… we overwhelmingly said YES to a combined structure with ALL the necessary details, materials, floor coverings, furnishings, technology, on site administration, a performing arts theatre and athletic facilities with fields that would make a community proud, and make our children proud. 

But, unfortunately when we voted YES to approve the $108 million dollar project last March, the architect underestimated the cost of the project.  How could that happen? Does that infuriate me? Do I want someone held accountable? YES. 

But, this is the fact. The estimate was too low. The schools are being built one way or another.

The Board of Selectmen, School Committee, Secondary Schools Building Committee, School Administrators, community advocates, and volunteers have dedicated years of their personal time seeing this project come to fruition.  The SSBC is now further tasked by the financial dilemma of being $13 to $16 million short on the revised estimate of the total cost of the project.

What we need to do is think clearly, trust our instinct that guided us to the polls last year, and remember that we overwhelmingly BELIEVED in this project.  We knew these facilities were not a Taj Mahal by any stretch.  But, we knew these facilities were going to have more than what we currently offer our students and community.  We knew the details and voted YES.  The only way to accomplish getting properly functioning and long lasting, appealing, safe buildings with a usable auditorium,  athletic courts and fields is if we say YES to the inevitable additional funding required to complete the schools on time, and as agreed to.  I know in my heart that if the price of the exact project presented to me a year ago was $120 or $125 million dollars, I would have voted YES.  I would have made the same choice.  I would have voted YES, and made the financial obligation to invest for our children today and for generations to come.   

Please, think clearly.  It would be detrimental to build these facilities with the proposed project eliminations.  The most cost effective way to solve this problem is to agree to the additional funding now.  If the request for additional funding is not approved, we will end up with less than adequate, less than appealing, inferior and unfinished, unsuitable facilities that are not what we ever could have envisioned.  The project will be delayed, and it will still cost us more money in the long run.  The cuts that have been proposed as the only way to safeguard education and maintain the requirements of the MSBA are dreadful, absolutely ludicrous.   

Trust the committee members, legal council’s involvement, and trust the instinct of those members of our community that have been a voice of reason for us.  Trust that if the project a year ago was proposed at $125 Million dollars, you would have voted YES. 

Please attend the last SSBC informational hearing on Thursday, March 14 at 7:00 PM in the High School Auditorium.  Come with an open mind.  Have your questions answered.  Hear the final guaranteed maximum price and what it will cost based on your home’s assessed value. 

Town Meeting is Monday, 3/18 at 7 p.m. in the HS Auditorium.

The special election VOTE is Friday, 3/22.  Please join me in voting YES for our schools to be built the way WE intended… inside and out, and on time.   

With respect,

Debra Hill