Leaders of an effort to approve a $165 million bond to build a new high school in Burlington have landed on a pretty direct catchphrase: “We need a high school.”
Blue lawn signs in support of the vote have been highly visible in Burlington in the lead-up to the Nov. 8 election, when residents will settle the bond question.
But in recent weeks, opponents of the effort have tried to make their argument, as well — mostly through red lawn signs that read “enough is enough.” Those opposed to the bond say the price tag is too high.
For the Burlington School District, though, a defeat would be challenging.
“We are without a high school if this does not pass, simply stated,” said Clare Wool, chair of the Burlington School Board.
Since 2020, Burlington High School has been operating out of a temporary location in the former Macy’s department store downtown, following the discovery of polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, in the building.
The Macy’s lease costs the district $1.5 million a year, according to Wool. That arrangement is due to end in 2025, so even with passage of the bond measure, the construction timeline would be aggressive.
But according to Superintendent Tom Flanagan, it is achievable.
“Right now, 2025 is absolutely possible,” Flanagan said. “We believe. And that’s what we’ve heard from all of our experts who are working on this.”
Don Sinex, who owns the former Macy’s building, said in an email Thursday that he plans to develop the building for “mixed use” purposes once the high school’s lease is up in July 2025.
“I had already been working on a comprehensive redevelopment plan before the school board contacted me about the possibility of leasing the Macy’s building while the school board determined the more permanent high school solution,” Sinex said. Once the lease was in place, Sinex said, he put those development plans on hold.
The possibility of extending the lease absent a new school in 2025 would not be Sinex’s “first choice,” he said. But should the school need the Macy’s building, “that is something I could consider when such a request is made.”
The Burlington High School campus on Institute Road has been vacant since the PCB contamination was discovered. Originally that building was slated for a renovation project, but the contamination drove school leaders to push for an entirely new building. The district considered multiple sites before finally returning to the original campus, where construction would take place following demolition of the old high school and remediation of the PCB contamination.
The district is currently planning to sue the agrochemical company Monsanto for damages related to the PCBs, including the cost of building a new school.
Among the opponents of the bond vote is the head of the Burlington Republican Party, Christopher-Aaron Felker, who said in an emailed statement that the bond amount pushes past the city’s borrowing power.
“While it is true that everything we invest in educating our children is money well-spent, we cannot spend more than the taxpayers can pay,” Felker said in an email. “Our city simply cannot afford this project as currently presented.”
Ericka Redic, a Burlington resident and Libertarian candidate for U.S. House, said it was “irresponsible and unconscionable” that the district would send such a high dollar amount to voters.
The estimate of the project comes to $190 million, the district said. After $25 million in contributions from the district itself, it hopes to borrow $165 million in bonds for the rest of the project.
Borrowing the full amount would result in tax increases for Burlington residents. The school district shared tax implications that show payments would rise beginning in 2024, then peak from 2026 until 2044.
Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger said in an emailed statement Thursday that he intends to vote “yes” on the bond “because our kids need and deserve the great high school, and we need to get it done as quickly as we can.”
But Weinberger also said he shared concerns that some have about the resulting impact on taxes and borrowing. Weinberger said the city and the school district recently agreed to work together to find other funding sources, which would reduce the tax burden and reduce project costs. The city and district will also restrict other borrowing “until we are back within the borrowing targets,” Weinberger said.
In 2018, Burlington voters approved a $70 million bond, but that was for a renovation only. It was during the planning phases for that renovation that the PCB contamination was discovered. All but $4 million of the $70 million was returned or never borrowed, the school district said. The funds were spent on project design and PCB testing, according to statements on the district website.
Wool, the school board chair, said she believes Burlington has a reputation for supporting students and that the outcome of the bond vote will reflect that.
“I really believe that every citizen wants the best for our students,” Wool said. “And that’s ultimately why we work hard and why I’m remaining optimistic.”
