On Oct. 6, voters in the Franklin County Technical School’s (FCTS) 19 member towns will be asked in a special election whether to pay $123 million in additional property taxes to build a new technical school that could hold up to 736 students. The state’s Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) has agreed to pay $113 million of the total $236 million construction cost. (Note: with interest payments, that $123 million in town borrowing becomes $222 million over 30 years!)
I support the tech school and recommend a ‘no’ vote for these four reasons: a) we need more voter input than special elections provide; b) we need a smaller, less expensive tech school better sized for our shrinking school-age population; c) we need more focus on graduating students into high-value trade jobs; d) we need equity and mission sharing with the surrounding six public school districts in Franklin County, several of which now face difficult school consolidation decisions.
More voter input
After receiving MSBA approval of $113 million in state funding on April 28, FCTS leaders faced a 120-day deadline to gain voter approval. Rather than vote in August when many leave town, FCTS rightly requested an extension. But instead of extending to the Sept. 1 state primary or the Nov. 6 general election, FCTS opted for Oct. 6, right between two already scheduled (and paid for) elections, each of which would draw more voters than a typical special election.
In Shelburne, the primary drew over 40% of voters. A state general election typically draws 70-80%. Low-turnout special elections tend to draw supporters of the ballot items, which can fuel suspicion that proponents are choosing their voters. We can and should engage the most voters, not the fewest, when we next vote a right-sized school proposal, particularly when raising property taxes.
A smaller tech school
We often buy back-to-school clothes a size large to allow kids room to grow. When buying new schools, we need to start thinking differently. Franklin County’s population has been flat for the past quarter century, shrinking from 71,500 people in 2000 to 70,485 in 2026. The Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) projects a 25% decline in population by 2050 to 53,000 people. We must plan for fewer students and a smaller less expensive school, perhaps 450 students. The current FCTS is 678 students, and the proposed school is sized for up to 736 students. Too big!
The 19 member towns are being asked to borrow $123 million over 34 years. Shelburne’s $7,275,000 share will add $214,000 to the town budget every year for 34 years. This single project adds 4.5% to the property tax bill for every taxpayer in Shelburne. This year, Shelburne’s budget passed at just $11,000 under the levy limit that triggers a Prop. 2-1/2 override vote.
More focus on high-value trades jobs
The reason to have a separate technical school is to provide students with the equipment and training needed to prepare for trades such as electrician, plumber, aviation technician, auto mechanic, welder, machinist and chef. We should focus on equipping these shops that traditional public schools cannot provide.
In recent years, FCTS has expanded to “shops” in health and veterinary tech, and web design. Community college is now free — students can earn a one-year medical assistant certificate right after high school at no cost, and even be paid to learn at some colleges.
We should focus on high-value trade shops that need expensive equipment and restructure so that 75% or more of FCTS grads get hired in those fields. Is that possible? Yes! I helped GCC run an after-dark advanced manufacturing training for adults at FCTS for eight years and got more than 75% of graduates into CNC machining jobs at a very low training cost. Currently, only 45% of FCTS seniors are going out on Co-op work-study with employers to prepare for a trade. We can do better!
Building a new tech school is a big and costly decision. We need to make school building choices in a county-wide context and right-size all schools so that all of our students get a high-quality education at a cost taxpayers can afford. Let’s vote ‘no’ on Oct. 6. Ask FCTS to renovate for now and engage its 19 towns in preparing an innovative plan for a smaller, trades-focused new school. There is more than one way to offer affordable high-quality vocational technical education.
Andrew Baker lives in Shelburne Falls.