South Shore Communities to Vote on Regional School Proposal

On January 25, 2025, residents across nine South Shore communities will vote on a proposal to construct a new South Shore Regional Vocational Technical High School. The initiative aims to replace the existing 62-year-old facility in Hanover with a modern, energy-efficient building designed to accommodate 900 students and expand vocational programs.

Project Overview

The proposed 250,000-square-foot, three-story building will be situated on the current athletic fields behind the existing school on Webster Street. It plans to house 14 career technical programs, introducing new courses in Veterinary Science and Plumbing to meet evolving industry demands. The design emphasizes flexible, multi-purpose learning spaces to support a 21st-century educational curriculum.

Rationale for the New Facility

The current school faces significant challenges, including overcrowding, outdated infrastructure, and inefficient building systems that are costly to maintain. Each year, over 40% of student applicants are turned away due to space limitations. Recognizing these issues, the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) has invited the district into its Capital Construction grant program, making it eligible for up to 60% reimbursement of eligible costs.

"We're at the highest enrollment in school history, about 687 students," said Superintendent Thomas Hickey. "Every classroom in the building has two teachers in it. Everybody shares everything."

Community Engagement and Support

The proposal has garnered support from various local officials. For instance, the Scituate Select Board unanimously endorsed the project, emphasizing its potential to enhance educational opportunities and address the growing demand for technical and vocational training in the region.

To inform residents, the district has organized public forums and maintains a dedicated project website offering detailed information, including design plans, tax impact assessments, and frequently asked questions. Community members are encouraged to review these resources to make informed decisions.

The project has been gaining support across several member communities. In December, the Scituate Select Board unanimously supported the proposal.

"This project is about preparing our students for successful careers, strengthening our regional economy, and ensuring that our young people have access to the resources they need to thrive," said Andrew Goodrich, Chair of the Scituate Select Board.

Financial Implications and Tax Impact

The total estimated cost of the new South Shore Regional Vocational Technical High School project is approximately $276 million. With the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) expected to reimburse roughly $109 million of eligible costs, the district’s share of the expense would amount to around $167 million. This cost will be distributed among the nine member towns—Abington, Cohasset, Hanover, Hanson, Norwell, Rockland, Scituate, Whitman, and Marshfield—based on their student enrollment figures.

Preliminary tax impact analyses have been provided for each community, offering insight into potential property tax increases. For example:

• Norwell: The average annual tax increase for a home assessed at $750,000 is projected to be around $135.

• Marshfield: A home with an average assessed value of $635,000 could see an annual increase of approximately $90.

• Scituate: The average homeowner might experience an increase of $130 annually for a home assessed at $700,000.

• Hanover: The tax impact for a home assessed at $650,000 is estimated at approximately $105 annually.

• Cohasset: The average annual increase for a home assessed at $900,000 is projected to be around $140.

The specific tax impacts vary depending on factors such as enrollment contributions, assessed property values, and current town budgets. For towns with higher enrollment at the vocational school, the financial responsibility—and thus the tax increase—may be slightly higher.

To mitigate the financial impact, the project’s financing will be spread over multiple years, aligning with the MSBA reimbursement schedule. Local officials emphasize that the investment not only addresses immediate educational needs but also enhances the long-term value of workforce development in the region.

Residents can find detailed tax impact calculators and projections for their specific towns on the South Shore Tech Project website. These resources are designed to help taxpayers better understand how the project could affect their finances, encouraging informed participation in the January 25 vote.