New GMS a positive move for Canton

By Guest

Dear Editor:

I firmly believe that a new GMS school building is a positive move for Canton. In the interest of full disclosure, I have a child in each level of Canton Public Schools: a Hansen first grader (future GMS attendee), a GMS eighth grader (current attendee), and a CHS 10th grader (former attendee).

It isn’t just the middle school that benefits. The GMS project eliminates the 100-plus-student over-capacity in all three elementary schools by moving the fifth graders to the middle school in a wing shared with only sixth graders. It will provide a healthy, appropriate learning environment, absent of asbestos and leaking ceilings, for all students, including both typical learners and those with challenges. It will include the requests of our larger community like an additional theater and lit turf fields — both of which make up less than 1 percent of the total cost — tennis (pickleball anyone?) courts and outdoor gathering places.

There are a lot of confusing numbers, but the state has committed to reimbursing the town $74 million for the $241 million project. It will be using the Construction Manager At-Risk method, which means any cost over that $241 million price are the contractor’s responsibility and not the town’s. It is still a staggering amount, but it is an investment that will provide immense value. I’ve spent hours researching this and can confidently say I am comfortable that this number is in line with other local school projects, like the new middle school in Walpole.

I empathize with those for whom increased taxes will be a burden and who may not directly benefit from this project. I researched how an older resident could offset this increased tax cost and found the MA Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit, which may allow some to get a credit on their property taxes. Our current tax rate, which has decreased for the past 10 years, is one of the three lowest in Norfolk County, and according to what I can make of the numbers, within 10 years we would see an increase of over 5 percent in our property values.

Renovating the current building would only bring an aging structure up to code and doesn’t increase capacity or improve the inadequate learning spaces, in addition to requiring significant disruption to ongoing learning. It’s just not possible to administer a competitive education to our kids, who grow to be potential future taxpayers, in an optimal way with the existing building. As I interpreted it, putting in just 15 percent more money than the cost to renovate provides a larger new building that provides flexible learning spaces for all our students.

We can’t fix all problems at once and some might feel that the town’s money should be spent elsewhere, but we have an opportunity at our fingertips right now that, if forfeited, will be lost for at least another five years, during which time the GMS will continue to degrade. I truly hope that positive progress for Canton is not halted because we may have different views.

Lynda Sullivan

Share This Post

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=128083