Schools
Arlington Approves Funding for New Minuteman School
The decision comes shortly after Belmont became the first school in the district to vote against the funding.
ARLINGTON, MA—On the heels of Belmont's decision to vote against the Minuteman school building project, Arlington Town Meeting approved the town's portion of the $144.9 million in funds for the project Monday.
Arlington Town Meeting passed Article 6 of the Special Town Meeting Warrant by a vote of 165 to 31 after a long deliberation process. Belmont's vote effectively halted the project for the time being, as the Minuteman School Committee can now call a district-wide vote for residents to determine if the debt is approved.
The Minuteman project also lost $44 million in state funding as a result of the decision.
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Minuteman Superintendent Edward A. Bouquillon sent a memo to both the Arlington and Needham Boards of Selectmen Thursday urging both towns to stay the course and to support the construction of the new Minuteman High School. Bouquillon also expressed his hesitance to let the decision go to a district-wide vote.
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"While only the School Committee has the legal authority to determine whether to invoke that provision of the law, I will not recommend a district-wide ballot," wrote Bouquillon."As Superintendent, I am now convinced that it is not the best way to get us to "Yes.""
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