$200 million High School

[CrashBang]

In Newton, MA we are attempting to build a new high school. It is slated to be the most expensive school ever built in the state. It started as a $39 million renovation and turned into a runaway project. The building we are going to tear down is only 35 years old and other than a hvac problem has no major problems.

The laugher is that we have 3 other schools that actually need to be torn down and rebuilt and four firehouses that are ready to fall down. Oh ya, did I mention that our city has a budget shortfall of $25 million this year and the local politicians are asking for a property tax increase just to cover the day to day costs of running our city.

$15 million already spent on architects and design and we do not have completed plans. We are looking at a financial disaster.

[username n/a]

Why ?

[Mon Rominee]

Why you ask? Because it's Newton...the "Long Island" of Massachusetts.

Rediculous. Can't wait to pay for it.

[hbarcat]

Wow, kind of hard to believe wasting so much money in such an irresponsible fashion could happen in Massachusetts.





On a related topic, don't you have some deteriorating infrastructure like old bridges that need to be serviced before they start falling down?

[Mon Rominee]

Originally Posted by hbarcat

Wow, kind of hard to believe wasting so much money in such an irresponsible fashion could happen in Massachusetts.





On a related topic, don't you have some deteriorating infrastructure like old bridges that need to be serviced before they start falling down?

Sure do. In fact, one said bridge connects my brother in Law's business to a main drag, as in a 1/4 mile off the road, tops....it finally was closed to traffic due to wear and is not bugetted to even be assessed for repair until 2010. As a result, he has to travel 12 additional miles, one way on an alternate route just to get to his business' office / supplies.

It's stupid. It's zoned as a business / residential, yet you make owners and customers go through hell and back just to operate, but

LOOK AT THIS SHINY NEW SCHOOL! IT'S GOT WIFI!

[BassManPatsFan]

That's absolutely ridiculous. My town, Lexington, also loves building new schools when they're not really needed. Yes, Lexington and Newton do have excellent school systems (actually probably two of the best in the state), but $200 million for a new high school?????? It's not like a fancy new building is really going to make that much of a difference in the high schoolers' education when the old ones have been doing just fine for years.

CrashBang, does this plan involve combining Newton North and South into one high school?

[Valerus]

That's absurd. My high school probably cost the district $10,000. It was so bad.

[Marcus Johnson]

Unbelievable. And then I suppose the teachers contained within this place will still be doddering along underpaid as usual, paying for school supplies out of their own pockets.

[Bryan316]

Go to a city council meeting, and tell em, they waste all this money on this school, you're moving out.

[jkritchey]

Construction costs for High Schools in my county are $80 million. The land is usually free, obtained in deals with developers (almost always on a 100 year flood plain).

What's the normal cost in your area?

[MJ5150]

Still less than a stadium. Can the Bruins or Celtics play in the gym? We could go back to the whole multi-purpose room concept from the 70's and 80's.

-Mike

[Diggler]

That's what's been missing in our kids' education. $2 million buildings. Not those three ridiculous 'R's or anything. Teach them how to unroll condoms onto bananas, that's what they need.

We've been throwing money at this failed education system for how long and it still doesn't work. And we still hear the whines that 'education' is underfunded. Well, what do you need? Give us a number, tell us exactly HOW MUCH DO YOU NEED to teach a kid? We'll give it to you... and if you don't have results with that budget in 10 years, we scrap your system and start from scratch.

ETA: Most all of my family are public school teachers so I've heard it all.

[jkritchey]

Public education works great where I live, and one of the contributing factors, IMHO is that 6 of the 9 High Schools are less than 10 years old. Facilities are just not an issue. Every bond issue that has gone to public vote for new schools or renovations has overwhelmingly passed in the 10 years I've lived here.

Everyone still bit*hes about the expenses, but they pay up front, then work the system to make sure the money is well spent. 5 of the High schools were built from the same blueprints, using the same contractor for money savings.

Is there land acquisition expense in the $200 million? There are areas around here where land would be cost prohibitive...

Just my experience...

[CrashBang]

Originally Posted by BassManPatsFan

CrashBang, does this plan involve combining Newton North and South into one high school?

No, the schools are not combining. Newton South (within the same city) just completed a $20 million renovation that was over budget and shoddilly done. What a coincidence that the same construction company is doing the Notrh high school.

[CrashBang]

Originally Posted by Bryan316

Go to a city council meeting, and tell em, they waste all this money on this school, you're moving out.

This is what they want, for all of the resonable citizens to move out so that the moon bats can run the city.

I have tried to run for office on the board of alderman (like city council) but have been defeated. It's tough being a republican (2007 Newton Republican Man of the Year) in a democratic city.

[Diggler]

You're living in the wrong state, CrashBang!

[mike_v_s]

Originally Posted by Valerus

That's absurd. My high school probably cost the district $10,000. It was so bad.

You're from Beaumont, right? Which school did you go to?

Mike

[BassManPatsFan]

Originally Posted by CrashBang

No, the schools are not combining. Newton South (within the same city) just completed a $20 million renovation that was over budget and shoddilly done. What a coincidence that the same construction company is doing the Notrh high school.

Aha. Actually, now that I think about it, I have a good friend who goes to North and he mentioned this. I've been there a few times.--it seems pretty nice to me.

[KeithBMI]

My high school cost a couple of million dollars.

Nice place.

[Diggler]

Originally Posted by KeithBMI

My high school cost a couple of million dollars.

Nice place.

Yeah, but everyone knows Michigan is rolling in the money, right?