NEWS RELEASE 

News Release

NEWS RELEASE

NORTHBOROUGH, MA - November 6, 2000

The Northborough-Southborough Regional School Committee today issued a statement detailing the estimated cost of the proposed Algonquin high school building project.

According to the statement, the total cost of the project is estimated at 
$47.8 million, including $45.2 million for the cost of construction, and 
$2.58 million for design fees. 

To address citizen concerns about the expense of the project, the RSC voted 
on Oct. 12th to scale back the size of the original building proposal, reducing the total estimated cost by $2.78 million, or 5.5%. The size of the building was reduced from 305,000 square feet to 290,720 square feet and the plan to demolish the existing building was modified.

Residents of both Northborough and Southborough will be asked to vote in a 
special election on Nov. 18 to approve the design fees as a first step in 
launching the project. Voters in Northborough previously have failed to 
approve the design fees while voters in Southborough have approved such
fees.

The Nov. 18 region-wide election is specifically authorized under state law
in these circumstances, the RSC statement said.

Assuming the design fees are approved by a majority of the voters in the
Nov. 18 election, the project will be eligible to receive state funding 
reimbursements for 65% of the total cost of the project. If the design fees
are not approved, the amount of state reimbursement for any other future 
project is uncertain but it is likely to be less than 65%, according to the 
RSC statement. 

Under a recently agreed upon cost-sharing arrangement between the two towns, Northborough's portion of the cost is projected to be 61.5%, or $17.9 
million, and Southborough's share would be 38.5%, or $11.2 million. The
cost sharing arrangement is based on a four-year rolling average of student 
enrollments from each town so that the percentages will be adjusted 
periodically as student enrollments change.

"Our goal in issuing this statement is to provide voters with accurate, 
up-to-date data on the high school proposal," said Shirley Lundberg, RSC 
chair. "This will give them a better opportunity to make an informed
decision when they go the polls on Nov. 18.

It is estimated that the high school building project would increase the tax
bill of the owner of a $200,000 home in Northborough by an average of
$137.81 a year over the 23 year project payment period and the increase would be no more than $285.05 in any one year. The project would increase the tax bill of the owner of a $325,000 home in Southborough (a higher value is used to reflect the generally higher property values in Southborough) by an
estimated average of $154.25 a year over the payment period, with the increase being no more than $267.11 in any one year.

Both towns are planning additional capital expenditures on other school and 
non-school projects which will also impact the tax rates for property owners. 
In response to requests from the Financial Boards in Northborough, in an 
effort to minimize the tax rate increase during the startup phase of the
high school building project, the Northborough School Committee agreed on Oct. 4th to postpone from fiscal year 2003 to fiscal year 2004 commencement of the proposed capital improvement program for the Lincoln, Peaslee and Middle schools. The NSC also voted to formally recognize the Algonquin building project as Northborough's top school improvement priority.

The Algonquin building project is intended to address a severe overcrowding 
problem that is expected to confront administrators at the school in the
near future. Current enrollment at the 43-year-old school is 1,050 students.
That number is expected to increase to 1,600 by the year 2012. Administrators say the school is already beginning to feel the effects of the overcrowding. 
Needed capital improvements due to the aging of the school have been 
postponed by the RSC in anticipation of action on the building project, the 
RSC statement said.

"The high school situation has been studied for almost five years during 
which time various options - including renovate/addition and separate school

proposals - have been considered," Ms. Lundberg said. "As evidenced by its 
recent votes, the Regional School Committee continues to believe that the 
current proposal to build a new 1,600 student facility is the most practical, 
cost effective solution to the overcrowding and aging issues facing the high
school. Many in the region support the School Committee's position because 
it would provide a facility that keeps pace with the needs and demands of
the academic requirements reflected by today's state standards. There are
others who have different views and we respect their views.

"When compared to other current building projects around the state, the 
Regional School Committee believes the cost estimates for the proposed 
Algonquin project are reasonable and competitive," she stated.

The design fees will be used to prepare detailed architecture plans for the 
project. Residents from both towns would have an opportunity to vote on 
funding for the project itself, in the spring of 2001, according to the RSC 
statement.


FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Anthony Poteete, REGIONAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE

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