Park Ave. School Gets Green Light

Debt exclusion approved by 75% of Webster voters

By Janet Stoica
Patriot Correspondent

WEBSTER - Voters overwhelmingly approved a debt exclusion to build a new Park Avenue Elementary School, on Monday, June 25. Of the total 11,180 registered voters, 1,257 votes were cast, according to town clerk Robert Craver. Mr. Craver said that after three hand-counts, votes in favor of the debt exclusion were 948 and those against were 309. 

Parents and committees formed to advocate for the building project could be seen on just about every corner of every major intersection in town from early morning to late evening Monday. Their signs urged voters to "Vote Yes for the Debt Exclusion." Considering the periodic downpours and extreme thunderstorms that blew into the area all day, the debt-exclusion approval is a sweet victory.

The $46.8 million project will be reimbursed at a rate of 76.86 percent by the Massachusetts School Building Authority, and it will cost the town approximately $17 million.

Bobby Phillips, co-founder of the Friends of the Webster Public Schools said, “I just want to say Thanks to everyone involved with the Friends of Webster Public schools and everyone who came out to vote yes.  It is clear the direction this town is headed in and the future is bright!  This started out as simply trying to get a new school built and became a movement to change the attitude and culture of the town and we hope everyone continues to be involved and support this positive change!” 

Construction is planned to begin at the end of next school year and the new school would be open for  students in January of 2015