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Wed, March 25
Town Building
Thurs, March 26
Meet the Candidates Call-In Show
WayCAM Channel 9
6 - 8 pm
Tues, April 7
Town Election
7 am - 8 pm
Mon, April 13
Annual Town Meeting
7:30 pm
HS Field House
Wed, April 15
Special Town Meeting
7:30 pm
HS Field House
Thurs, April 16
Town Meeting continues
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| "The severe limitations of the current facility seriously impact teaching and learning (at WHS)" 2005 Accreditation report from the New England Assoc. of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
This Update summarizes the challenges facing the Wayland High School (WHS) facility and the imminent opportunity to secure State funds to address these problems.
The shortcomings of the WHS facility are confirmed by many:
- Over the last decade, three town study groups comprising almost 200 Wayland residents have concurred that the WHS building limitations need to be addressed
- WHS accreditation is at risk: NEASC, the accreditation organization for New England, has informed the town that if progress is not made to address the deficiencies in the WHS building, accreditation is at risk.
- MA Division of Occupational Safety has cited the school.
- MA Department of Environmental Protection has cited problems.
- MA School Building Administration (MSBA) concurs that WHS is one of the neediest facilities in the state - and one of the best positioned to move forward with State funding.
For more details on the findings of these groups and the specific problems cited, please visit the High School Building Committee's website. |
Now is the Time to Secure
State Funding
Both our State Representative, Tom Conroy (D) and our State Senator, Scott Brown (R), agree that now is the time. View their joint letter and a video discussion.
- State funds for school building projects through the MSBA are available now.
- These funds are provided through the State sales tax and for the next few years there is a minimum amount guaranteed by the legislature.
- Future funds are at risk due to declining State revenue.
- Once the MSBA signs a contract with the Town, the funds are secured for the phase stipulated in the contract.
- Wayland is one of only 19 communities in the fortunate position of being ready to approve and sign the feasibility and schematic design phase. There are hundreds of other communities that would happily trade places with us.
- The State will provide a minimum of 40% reimbursement and the funds are disbursed on a pay as you go basis. This means that the town only borrows money to cover 60% of the cost and the State pays in a timely manner to cover its portion.
Read more... |
Question 1: Move forward with a
State-supported High School project
A YES vote on Question 1 on the ballot will allow the town to borrow money to pay to conduct a state-sponsored Feasibility Study and schematic designs on the High School. The town must approve the full amount of the cost of the study but the State will reimburse the town for 40% of the costs on a "pay as you go" basis. For Wayland, the amount that needs to be authorized is $726,000. Net of state reimbursements and the $300,000 that was appropriated at the last Annual Town Meeting, the incremental cost to the town is estimated to be $315,600. This amount could also be lower once we hear from the state about how much of the 2004 study will be applied to the current project.
Estimated cost of Feasibility Study and
chematic designs as defined by the state $1,026,000
State Reimbursement @ 40% (410,400) Already appropriated (300,000)
Maximum incremental amount that will be spent by the Town should the ballot question and the article at ATM both be approved $315,600
To ensure that the Town can move forward with securing a state-funded High School project, TWO separate articles must be approved at Town Meeting:
- Likely to be voted on Mon April 13th: Article 7 at Annual Town Meeting to approve the spending requires a 2/3 majority. It is possible this article will not be addressed until Wed, April 15th or Thurs, April 16.
- To be voted on Wed April 15th: Article 5 at Special Town Meeting to allow the town to enter into an agreement with the state requires a simple majority.
If any one of these three votes fails, it would indefinitely delay our ability to secure state funding and solve the High School's facilities problems. |
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Candidates
- The only contested seats are for Board of Selectmen, School Committee and the one-year term for Trustees of Public Library.
- As a ballot question committee, we urge you to support candidates who endorse both debt exclusions. We suggest you review the candidates' statements for the contested seats and make your own decision.
You can hear more from the candidates themselves and have your questions answered:
Candidates Night, presented by the League of Women Voters, will be held on Wednesday, March 25th at 7:15 p.m. at Town Building. This will also include presentations by the High School Building Committee on Question 1 and the Finance Committee on Question 2.
Candidates Live! Q&A/Call-In program on the Wayland Channel (Comcast channel 9, Verizon Channel 37) Thursday, March 26, 2008 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
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What You Can Do
- Volunteer - we need folks to hold signs. Bring a friend and take some time to chat while working for a great cause! Contact info@soswayland.org.
- Put up a lawn sign - let us know if you would like a VOTE YES on 1 & 2 lawn sign, and we will get it to you! Contact info@soswayland.org.
- Spread the word - tell your friends and neighbors how critical the vote at the polls and the votes at Town meeting are to everyone in Wayland - forward this email.
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Absentee Ballots
If you are not able to vote at the polls on April 7, absentee ballots are available at the Town Clerk's office now, or you can fill out this form to receive a ballot by mail.
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