Voters said yes: Franklin County Technical School will begin a new chapter with a new building.
The 19 member municipalities saw a total of 7,628 ballots cast on Tuesday, with 4,106 in favor of constructing a new building and borrowing $236.6 million to cover the total project cost. On the other hand, 3,522 residents voted against the proposal.
With a “yes” vote secured, construction on the new building can begin in 2028, and it is expected to be complete and open for fall 2030. The new school will replace the current 50-year-old facility, which has aging mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.
The existing 159,000-square-foot school has undergone a number of maintenance and renovation projects over the years. However, school officials have said the building can no longer support modern educational needs.
Richard Kuklewicz, who chairs the School Committee, has long been an advocate for a new facility. He said on Wednesday morning that he was thrilled to hear the results.
“I was optimistic,” he said. “I think that many, many residents I spoke with were … very supportive of Franklin County Tech.”
Kuklewicz mentioned the project now enters the design phase. He said the project will go out to bid, “but some time from now.” The new H-shaped school, which is slated to be built adjacent to the current one at 82 Industrial Blvd. in Turners Falls, has an estimated opening time frame of fall 2030.
“I feel honored that the residents of the community see the value in the project we’ve proposed,” he added. “And we’re looking forward to the next steps within the process.”
After reviewing eight design options for renovations or a new building, the School Committee recommended constructing a new 211,075-square-foot building on the current property. After the construction of the new building, the old building would be demolished and would serve as the location for athletic fields.
The school would need to borrow $236.6 million to pay for construction. The Massachusetts School Building Authority is expected to reimburse the towns up to $113.8 million, leaving the towns on the hook for $122.8 million.
Ryan Rege, who became superintendent on July 1, said there was a sense of excitement in the school on Wednesday morning, with students chattering about the new building.
“We’re incredibly excited and grateful. It was an important milestone for … students, families, staff and the communities we serve,” he said. “We have an opportunity here to build an amazing facility that’s going to serve students and the community for decades to come, just as our current one has.”
Franklin County Technical School, which opened for its first day of classes on Sept. 8, 1976, serves as a vital part of the workforce pipeline, Rege said.
The amount each of the 19 member communities will pay toward a new building is based on population and equalized valuation, meaning towns like Warwick or Heath will pay a smaller portion of the total debt compared to communities like Greenfield or Deerfield, which have a higher population and higher property values.
The proposal passed in 13 of the 19 towns, failed in five, and tied in Conway.
Greenfield, the largest of the 19 municipalities, voted against the measure. The city’s annual share of expense is expected to be $1.87 million, which will result in an approximately $253.71 increase to the property tax bill for the average single-family home.
Other towns that did not support the measure included Buckland ($219,000 per year), Shelburne ($243,000 per year), Colrain ($178,000) and Orange ($772,000).
The towns of Bernardston, Deerfield, Erving, Gill, Heath, Leyden, Montague, New Salem, Northfield, Sunderland, Warwick, Wendell and Whately supported the new building proposal. These towns will see annual capital assessments ranging from $89,000 to $979,000, and increases to tax bills ranging from $86.82 to $334.66.
| Town | Yes Votes | No Votes |
| Bernardston | 214 | 171 |
| Buckland | 97 | 218 |
| Colrain | 106 | 119 |
| Conway | 87 | 87 |
| Deerfield | 332 | 213 |
| Erving | 143 | 75 |
| Gill | 165 | 145 |
| Greenfield | 755 | 834 |
| Heath | 87 | 68 |
| Leyden | 96 | 79 |
| Montague | 786 | 518 |
| New Salem | 59 | 35 |
| Northfield | 382 | 315 |
| Orange | 156 | 183 |
| Shelburne | 95 | 234 |
| Sunderland | 156 | 88 |
| Warwick | 141 | 52 |
| Wendell | 119 | 52 |
| Whately | 130 | 36 |
| Total | 4,106 | 3,522 |
According to the project timeline on the building project’s website, the school can now enter a funding agreement with the Massachusetts School Building Authority and proceed with bonding for the local share.
Over the next few months, designs for the school will be finalized and construction documents developed. Groundbreaking is expected to occur in early 2028.
