Explanation of Warrant Articles
Southwick Town Meeting
October 4, 2011
Article One
This article requests a town meeting vote on the expansion of the Southwick-Tolland Regional School District. The proposed expansion is documented in the amended Southwick-Tolland Regional Agreement dated August 16, 2011. This agreement allows for the inclusion of the town of Granville in the Regional District and describes the composition of the new school committee, the procedures for approving budgets and incurring debt, among other provisions. This article has direct implications for the facilities improvement proposal that will be voted in January. If regionalization is approved, the Massachusetts School Building Authority will support a “campus-wide” solution to our facility needs. This will include repairs at the Woodland School and the Powder Mill School, as well as a
renovation/addition at the high school. If regionalization is not approved, the School Building Authority will only allow the renovation/addition at the high school to go forward. Repairs at the other two schools will not be eligible for state reimbursement. A majority vote is required.
Only one of the next two articles needs to be voted.
Article Two
Previous town meetings approved borrowing authority for a feasibility study of the Woodland Elementary School. This feasibility study led to a change in the scope and definition of the project. If regionalization is not approved, this article correctly identifies the scope and definition of the project as focused on a proposal for a 7-12 middle school/high school. No additional funding or borrowing is involved with this article.
Article Three
Previous town meetings approved borrowing authority for a feasibility study of the Woodland Elementary School. This feasibility study led to a change in the scope and definition of the project. If regionalization is approved, this article correctly identifies the scope and definition of the project as focused on a proposal for a “campus-wide” solution including: the Woodland School, the Powder Mill School and a 7-12 middle school/high school. No additional funding or borrowing is involved with this article.
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