STM voters overwhelmingly back new middle school project

An aerial rendering of the exterior of the proposed new middle school courtesy of Ai3 Architects

An eight-year effort to build a new Galvin Middle School cleared a substantial hurdle Monday night as over 1,000 residents turned out at a Special Town Meeting to voice their overwhelming support for the project, paving the way for a special town election set for Monday, December 10.

On Tuesday, the Canton Select Board met to establish an early voting schedule for the election, which kicks off on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 30 (see page 5 for details).

Town Clerk Tracy Kenney said officially, 1,022 residents turned out for Monday’s STM and only a smattering of people (approximately 10-12) voted in opposition to the GMS project. Attendees were divided between two locations with Town Moderator Richard Staiti overseeing the vote in the CHS auditorium and co-moderator Alan Hines doing the same in the school’s gymnasium.

Loud applause could be heard in both venues following the vote to approve, which was cast around 7:50 p.m. following presentations by school leaders and resident comments. The second part of the STM, consisting of four non-zoning articles and five zoning amendments, also went swiftly and smoothly with the entire session wrapping up before 9 p.m.

A simple majority approval on December 10 will allow the town and School Committee to accept a reimbursement of between $72 and $74 million from the Mass. School Building Authority (MSBA), representing just over 30 percent of the total project budget of $241 million. A rejection of the proposal would send school officials back to the drawing board, and it could be another seven to 10 years before the town could reapply for MSBA funding with construction costs expected to rise substantially.

In their presentations Monday night, School Superintendent Derek Folan and School Committee Chair Kendall O’Halloran said acceptance of the new building would greatly alleviate overcrowding at the three elementary schools, which would serve K-4 students under a newly approved grade reconfiguration plan. Both Folan and O’Halloran agreed that the 52-year-old building had outlived its useful life, with O’Halloran noting that even that night, the building was dealing with water leaks.

The GMS project has the backing of more than a dozen town committees, including the Capital Planning Committee, which Chair Dave Emhardt acknowledged had concerns about the cost. “It is expensive, but you are getting a lot for your money,” Emhardt said.

The proposed new school would serve students in grades 5-8 with two separate wings — one for fifth and sixth graders and the other for seventh and eighth graders. The design calls for larger and brighter classrooms, more collaborative space for students and teachers, improved energy-efficiency, and advanced safety features. School leaders also highlighted the various recreational amenities that will benefit not just the middle schoolers, but the entire community, including a new 800-seat auditorium, a double gymnasium, and a synthetic turf field with outdoor lighting.

“I am incredibly heartened and proud that the Canton community clearly continues to put such a high priority on the children of our town,” said O’Halloran. “I am very appreciative that so many residents turned out [at STM]. I hope this positivity and support continue exponentially through the next step — the ballot vote on Tuesday, December 10. This isn’t a done deal yet. Please support the GMS project on December 10 with your vote. Visit GalvinMSProject.com for details about the project.”

“It was a great night for Canton,” added Folan. “We can’t thank the residents enough. They came out in force in support of the GMS project and for the community as a whole.”

Folan said it’s equally important for voters to participate in the upcoming special election, which is the final step to authorize the funding for the project and unlock the MSBA reimbursement. “We so often must live in our present moment — caring for our families, living the day-to-day, always doing the best we can,” he said. “It’s not too often that we are presented with an opportunity, a generational opportunity, that brings the entire community together as one and invests in the future of our children, families and educators.”

To finance the GMS project, the town will seek a 30-year debt exclusion bond while also tapping into unused levy capacity. Finance Director Randy Scollins said the average cost per residential taxpayer would be $441 per year over the 30-year period with the highest impacts occurring in the first few years (beginning in 2030). Scollins said the average taxpayer would pay an additional $886 ($222 quarterly) in the first year with that figure decreasing to $528 ($132 quarterly) by year three.

During his presentation, Folan highlighted several programs that are available to seniors and disabled veterans to reduce their property tax burden, including a $1,000 exemption for seniors who meet certain income requirements, the Senior/Veterans tax program offered by the Department of Elder & Human Services, the state Circuit Breaker Tax Credit and more. More information on these and other programs can be found under the Financial FAQs at galvinmsproject.com/faqs.

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