HAVERHILL — Superintendent Maureen Lynch and the Whittier Tech School Building Committee share the following information about the upcoming vote on the District’s school construction project.
Whittier Tech is pursuing construction of a new building to best provide a 21st century technical education to students, helping them join the workforce in emerging careers. The current building was opened in 1973, and its last significant renovation was a roof replacement in 2007.
Whittier Tech serves about 1,200 student per year, in 23 career pathways in Arts and Communication, Construction, Manufacturing, Service, Technology, and Transportation. Many students fill jobs in high-paying, high-demand occupations upon graduation.
Both MSBA and the Whittier Tech School Committee have approved a districtwide vote to be held on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024.
The current building project was created following more than six years of discussion, and developed by construction professionals. The project has been vetted repeatedly by the Massachusetts School Building Authority, which maintains strict oversight over proposed projects. MSBA has approved of the work done by the School Building Committee and Whittier’s project partners during each step of the process.
The project is estimated to cost $444.6 million. The state will reimburse the District about $180 million, reducing the District’s share to $264 million over 34 years of bond payments.
Should voters not approve new construction, Whittier will embark on a major renovation project to replace failing equipment and systems and bring the structure up to modern building codes. This work is estimated to cost $367.5 million over 41 years of bond payments, with no reimbursement from the state.
In the interest of full transparency, Whittier Tech has created the Building the Future of Whittier website, which includes information, news, reports, updates, and answers to Frequently Asked Questions.
The site includes video presentations about the building project, and a tax calculator allowing residents to calculate the impact of the new school on their tax bills.
Whittier Tech staff will lead tours on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, allowing residents the opportunity to see current building conditions and ask questions about the project. Those interested in touring the building are asked to sign up here:
Polls in all 11 sending communities will be open on Jan. 23, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., by agreement of all 11 city and town clerks. Polling places are:
Amesbury
Amesbury High School, 5 Highland St.
Georgetown
Penn Brook School, gymnasium, 68 Elm St.
Groveland
Town Hall, 183 Main St.
Haverhill
Ward 1, Precinct 1: Somebody Cares, 358 Washington St.
Ward 1, Precinct 2, 2A: Citizens Center, 10 Welcome St.
Ward 1, Precinct 3, 3A: Haverhill High School, gymnasium, 137 Monument St.
Ward 2, Precinct 1: Hunking School, 480 South Main St.
Ward 2, Precinct 2: Bradford Elementary, 116 Montvale St.
Ward 2, Precinct 3: Moody School, 59 Margin St.
Ward 3, Precinct 1: Citizens Center, 10 Welcome St.
Ward 3, Precinct 2: Haverhill Public Library, 99 Main St.
Ward 3, Precinct 3: Unitarian Universalist Church, 15 Kenoza Ave.
Ward 4, Precinct 1: Nettle Middle School, 150 Boardman St.
Ward 4, Precinct 2: Northern Essex Community College, Tech Center, 100 Elliott St.
Ward 4, Precinct 3: Kennedy Circle Community Room, 1 Kennedy Circle
Ward 5, Precinct 1, 1A: Julian Steele Community Room, 772 Washington St.
Ward 5, Precinct 2: 1st Presbyterian Church, 346 Broadway
Ward 5, Precinct 3, 3A: West Congregational Church, 767 Broadway
Ward 6, Precinct 1: Haverhill High School, gymnasium, 137 Monument St.
Ward 6, Precinct 2, 2A: J.G. Whittier Middle School, 256 Concord St.
Ward 6, Precinct 3: Pentucket Lake School, 252 Concord St.
Ward 7, Precinct 1: Presidential Gardens Community Room, 140 Evergreen Drive
Ward 7, Precinct 2: Hunking School, 480 South Main St.
Ward 7, Precinct 2A: Julian Steele Community Room, 772 Washington St.
Ward 7, Precinct 3, 3A: Bradford Elementary, 116 Montvale St.
Ipswich
YMCA, 110 County Road
Merrimac
Merrimac Public Library, 86 West St.
Newbury
Precinct 1: Fire Station, 3 Morgan Avenue
Precinct 2: Town Library, 0 Lunt St., Byfield
Newburyport
Ward 1P: Plum Island Boat House, 300 Northern Boulevard
Ward 1: People’s United Methodist Church, 64 Purchase St.
Ward 2: Newburyport Public Library, 94 State St.
Ward 3, 4: Hope Community Church, 11 Hale St.
Ward 5, 6: Senior Community Center, 331 High St.
Rowley
St. Mary Church, rear, 196 Main St.
Salisbury
Hilton Senior Center, 39 Lafayette Road
West Newbury
Town Annex, 379 Main St.
Residents who are unregistered but wish to vote must register with their city or town clerk no later than Jan. 13, or register online with the Secretary of State’s office.
Residents who wish to vote but are unsure of their polling place are invited to call their city or town clerk, or visit the Secretary of State’s Where Do I Vote? website.
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