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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003 Miscellaneous News Article SPR WITHDRAWN Friday,May 16,2003 North Andover Citizen Page 3 Foster Farmstate ,[Voters approve new outcountry elementary school subject to three triggers By Michael J.Fisher after conversations with consultants and ty standards, he noted. minsner@cna.com with the architect,"said Murphy. Minicucci said,construction is expect- The Foster Farm school project took a "Changes in the language had been ed to begin sometime between 2007 and giant step forward Monday night when floated around - we ran it by the Finance 2010. Costs, projected at 25.6 million Town Meeting gave the$35 million pro- Committee and the Board of Selectmen, for the total project in 2003, he said, jest the overwhelming support needed to and everybody was okay with it. would rise by that time to about$35 mil- lack it into the state's reimbursement Deb Fullford, of Blueberry Hill Lane, lion based on a five percent inflation short list. asked why,if this was such an important rate, School Committee Chairman Dan project, did the school administration The readjustments to the estimated Murphy said they were fairly confident want to cut it so close by putting a 50 state.aid, from 54 to 50 percent, he going into the meeting that voters would percent minimum on the state's reim- explained, were based on the fact that at support the school. bursement figure as one of the triggers. the state maximum for reimbursement of— "We were all very hopeful.We thought Most people wanted it to be tied to a $173 per square foot, the building was there would be strong support because trigger," said Murphy. "We thought 50 eligible only up to $20,3million in the voters could see this is really in percent was a reasonable number." He today's dollars. With estimates for the everybody's best interest,"he said. said that the triggers were put in place to project cost at $25,5million, that left.' The reimbursement-program, after a help ensure voter support, $5,3million ineligible. moratorium on new projects was enacted The primary trigger is attainment of an "When we do the translation," suidjl and then repealed earlier this year, is enrollment of 1,925 studenks in grades 1 Minicucci,"That means 52 percent would 3 offering funding to only the 27 highest .- 5, This number, school officials say be paid by the town,and 48 percent by the represents a situation whereby class- priority projects in the state this year, p y state•" However, he assured voters that When it was announced that Foster room sizes in currently existing build Farms 'was ranked seventh on that ings would be expanded to the edge of adjustments could be made to make the.,: reason far both management and safetystate's share at least 50 percent, abridged list, school officials decided to g With the adjustments assumed, base move, Legislators have warned that state concerns, money will not be available for schools The other two triggers are the avail- state funding, said Minicucci,for eligible, again for quite some time. ability of.state funds and those funds costs, was 52,5 percent. A possible six A subcommittee was quickly con- accounting for at least 50 percent of cost percent in bonus money could be attained vened to come up with a plan to secure of the school. through other considerations, including a_ town support and a place on the list, "Remember," Minicucci told the vot- state award of an additional two percent, Three triggers established by the sub- ers, "we were competing against many for the school's green design, „ committee make certain that the school other communities, North, Andover "A yes vote grandfathers this project at - will not be built until circumstances ranked seventh based on need," 60 percent reimbursement rate today , necessitate it, and nothing will happen "This is as good as it is going to get," A no vote means we have lost the oppor-.,, without the state money. said Minicucci, and voters heard him tunity to go on the list;" Although previous plans had called for loud and clear. He reminded voters that even if they.., a minimum 54 percent of eligible costs Another goal of the project is to retire voted yes, safeguards would ensure the from the state, late changes reduced that the seven existing portable classrooms, school would not be built if it was not. number to 50 percent. he said. Last year four were shut down needed. "When we ran the numbers again we because of health problems. The aging "You've lost nothing my voting yes determined that 50 percent was closer to Bradstreet building will also be closed as tonight,but simply preserves our place on what the reimbursement rate would be - part of a town-wide push for better safe- the list,"he said.