Copyright berkshireeagle
To the editor: The Monument Mountain High School vote happens at the polls on Tuesday for Great Barrington, Stockbridge and West Stockbridge. The bottom line is this: What would I rather get for my hard-earned money, a brand new school that meets today's standards within two years, or, for probably more money in 10-plus years, a bandaged-up, obsolete building with close to $100 million in repairs that do not change the fundamental lack of efficiency, light and adequate learning spaces? A yes vote means approving a $152 million loan for a new school, $62 million of which has been guaranteed to be covered by grants. These grants are not available for renovations, as no one has deemed the current building worth saving. That leaves $89 million from the towns — 52 percent from Great Barrington, 32 percent from Stockbridge and 13 percent from West Stockbridge. This loan would be locked in and secured with 30-year bonds. For an accurate estimate of tax implications (plus abatement options and other FAQ), one can visit tinyurl.com/bdhkahmj. A no vote would mean this: An estimated $89 million in bare-necessity repairs. This would be borrowed in smaller chunks over 10-plus years, with changing interest rates and increasing construction costs. It would mean students going to school in an active construction zone for a decade, with rented trailers serving as classrooms. The repair costs are so high because the building is “grandfathered” into many outdated standards, and once renovations begin (e.g. a new roof), everything must “come up to code.” The new building would be completely energy-efficient, and an asset to our towns — instead of the only antiquated high school in the Berkshires. It would vastly improve the vocational learning spaces for horticulture, automotive, childhood education and create space to train future electricians. All of the current classrooms are undersized, particularly science labs. The safety concerns that didn’t exist 60 years ago would be addressed to create a secure space. What would I rather get for my tax money? The answer is obviously a new school. It’s easy to forget that most of us relied upon the public school system for 12-plus years because it was long ago, but those are very important years, and I believe we should choose to support the future generation now that it is our turn. I’m voting yes on Tuesday. Somya Shankin, Great Barrington
