High School Study Goes to Voters June 8

Part one of the two-step process to approve a feasibility study for Concord-Carlisle High School passed at Town Meeting, and part two comes at the ballot box on June 8.

The town is asking voters to approve a debt exclusion of $1.3 million for the study of the Walden Street facility. A debt exclusion is a voter-approved temporary tax increase that goes away once the study is paid for.

Regional School Committee member Jerry Wedge said the office of Michael Rosenfeld would complete the study of the regional school building. The cost is shared between the towns of Concord and Carlisle. Concord's share is approximately $700,000, Town Manager Chris Whelan said.

Wedge said Rosenfeld completed a master plan a year ago that applies to the feasibility study.

"We are doing this with the MSBA, but we have a head start with the master plan," said Wedge. "This master plan is flexible enough to be useful whatever comes our way."

In 2002 and 2005 there were plans to renovate the building, but in both instances, the plans did not move forward. Wedge said the economic crisis of 2002 caused the state to cut aid to the district by about 20 percent, and in 2005 there was a moratorium on all MSBA activities.

The Regional School Committee will appoint a building committee for the process, working with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).