The saga of Norwood High continues. In May, the Massachusetts School Building Authority recommended that Norwood go forward with design plans for a brand-new high school with an estimated price tag of $80 million. A month later after learning that the cost of a new high school might be closer to $100 million, MSBA told the town to select a stock plan based on several high schools recently designed and built in Massachusetts. They believed that a prototype-built high school facility—like the Whitman-Hanson High School—would save millions on architectural plans, and cost less than $75 million. (Unfortunately, the towns of Whitman and Hanson had to cut 82 school staff to fund their $9 million share of that project.) But Norwood officials and many residents at the two neighborhood meetings in June want a bigger gym, bigger auditorium, more space, and room for NPA Cable TV—all at a bigger price tag.
All these modifications will cost more money. And now the MSBA is having funding troubles because sales tax receipts are down and is demanding that communities scale back similar new school projects.
Remember, there are other possible options. The fact remains that the debate is far from over yet, and it won’t be over until next April, when voters in town express their own personal preference on a ballot question. Until then, it is too soon to ask all residents to come together and support a final solution, whatever that unknown solution and price tag will be.
