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Date: 11/8/2023
EAST LONGMEADOW — After two years of planning and contentious debate among residents, voters chose to fund a new East Longmeadow High school and pool at the Nov. 7 election.
The vote was 3,577-1,617 in favor of a debt exclusion on the $177.5 million school. The Massachusetts School Building Authority will contribute $82 million in reimbursements to the project, leaving East Longmeadow taxpayers to cover the remaining $95.12 million.
The second ballot question on a debt exclusion for a $16.79 million natatorium housing a pool for school and public use was also approved with a vote on 3,219-1,948. The natatorium is not eligible for MSBA funding and the full cost will be the responsibility of the taxpayers.
Voter turnout was high, as evidenced by the non-stop stream of residents coming and going from the polling place at Birchland Park Middle School. More than 300 people had cast their ballot by 8 a.m., adding to the 1,185 people who have voted by mail or taken advantage of early voting. By the end of the day, 5,203 people had cast a ballot, 39.5% of those eligible. Town Clerk Jeanne Quaglietti commented on the turnout, “I’m hoping people will get an interest in voting after going through it for this.”
The proposal for the school and pool has been heavily debated over the past year. Standing room-only crowds turned out for seven public forums and tours of the existing 1960s-era high school. In addition to expressing the need for quality education spaces and updated science labs, people said they were concerned about rain leaking through classroom ceilings and an outdated electrical system that caused an evacuation of the school when a piece of equipment began smoking in October. Superintendent Gordon Smith had told residents that the high school was “on warning” and in danger of losing its accreditation from the New England School Development Council due to the state of the building.
Outside the polling place, Meghan Hickey said she had voted for the school and the natatorium. When asked why, she pointed to her daughter. “They need a school they can learn in, not one that’s crumbling around them.”
Nancy McGreal and Frances Anthony, said they voted for the school and the new pool and called the existing building “disgraceful.” McGreal cited her grandchildren as a reason to vote for the project. Anthony said, “No one will want to buy property here if the school loses accreditation.”
Paul Switzer and Emily Switzer brought their children along when they voted. “We’re going to have to pay whether [the school] is refurbished or new. Sometimes it’s better to go new,” Emily Switzer said. She also said a school in good condition will “keep families here.”
Paul Switzer added, “To keep dumping money into a falling down building ... just doesn’t make sense.”
On the other side of the issue, residents said the estimated tax increase of $2.56 per $1,000 of property value was too high. People also pointed to the other big-ticket projects that the town needs, such as roadwork and a new fire station. They said the high school project would push the town too close to the state tax ceiling of $25 per $1,000 of property value. Others questioned the transparency of the process.
“I can’t even afford the property taxes as it is,” Linda Couzelis after voting against the debt exclusion. Paul Dillon agreed, saying, “They’re high enough as it is.”
The MSBA initially pledged $63 million in reimbursement before voting to increase that number to the current $82 million on Oct. 25. Each person to whom Reminder Publishing spoke said the supplemental funding from the MSBA did not affect their vote.
“Somehow, I don’t believe all that,” Dillon said, referring to the amount of supplemental funding. “I think the numbers aren’t as high as they say.”
Debbie Buendo, who voted for the school and the natatorium, said, “Obviously, the extra money helps,” but noted she had made up her mind prior to the extra funding.
The School Building Committee will now move forward on the project, with construction scheduled to begin in 2024.