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Whittier committee approves $2.5 million appropriation to fund MSBA feasibility study
Summary
The Whittier Regional Vocational School Committee on March 11 voted to appropriate $2.5 million from its capital projects fund to pay for a Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) feasibility study assessing options for a new or renovated vocational high school, including an alternative site at Northern Essex Community College.
The Whittier Regional Vocational School Committee voted Wednesday to appropriate $2,500,000 from its capital projects special revenue fund to pay for a feasibility study required to advance the district’s MSBA application.
Business manager Ms. Cosmos told the committee the district currently holds $2,902,837.44 in the capital projects fund and read the exact MSBA-provided motion language asking the School Committee to authorize $2,500,000 to cover anticipated study costs. "We are requesting that the school committee vote to authorize an appropriation of $2,500,000," she said.
The appropriation covers a feasibility study for the Whittier Regional Vocational High School at the existing site, 150 Amesbury Line Road in Haverhill, and, as an alternative, the Northern Essex Community College Haverhill campus at 100 Elliott Street. Ms. Cosmos said the study amount would be expended under the discretion of the Whittier Regional Vocational High School Building Committee and cautioned that the MSBA program is "a non-entitlement discretionary program based on need as determined by the MSBA."
Committee members asked whether Northern Essex would contribute to the study costs and whether materials from a prior study could be reused. Ms. Cosmos and other administrators said negotiations with Northern Essex are ongoing and that MSBA guidance required a complete new feasibility study rather than reuse of earlier work: "MSBA was really clear that we needed a full complete study," a member noted during discussion.
Mr. Murphy made the motion to appropriate the funds; Mr. Fitzgerald seconded. The motion passed on a roll-call vote, with all members present voting in favor. The administration indicated that if the study stops before completion any unspent funds would be returned to the capital projects account, and that any costs exceeding MSBA grant support would be the district’s responsibility.
Next steps include the building committee overseeing study expenditures and continuing engagement with MSBA and the Regional Amendment Committee as the district moves into the feasibility stage.
Actions recorded: Motion to appropriate $2,500,000 for a feasibility study (moved by Mr. Murphy; seconded by Mr. Fitzgerald). Outcome: approved (all members present voted yes).
