Fuller School Project Vote Just One Week Away

A vote on whether to move forward with the Fuller School project is coming on Dec. 11, and controversy still swirls about the tax cost to residents. The project has been almost five years in the making and envisions a total redesign of the school from the ground up, at a cost of $98.3 million.

While the poor condition of the Fuller School is well known, residents are worried about the possibility of taxes rising as a result of the redesign project. The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) is offering the city approximately $39.5 million if the project goes through, leaving the city with $58.8 million to cover. According to the Framingham public school site, the project would cost the average property taxpayer an extra $101 a year.

Proponents of the project, including School Committee Chair Adam Freudberg, say its passage is crucial for all parts of the city budget. "The Fuller Project is the number one capital project right now and it will stay that way whether or not the vote passes," he said.

Freudberg added that without the MBSA grant the project will be much more expensive for the city and result in a higher tax hike and a drain on finances for other institutions.

Some residents have called for a more cost-effective solution to fixing the school without raising taxes. In response, the School Committee and School Building Committee have insisted that the current plan to redesign the school and start from scratch is the most cost-effective option.

The vote on Dec. 11 holds a big financial weight for the city and the future of Framingham schools. School officials have urged residents to get out and vote and to research the issue before hitting the polls.

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Photo Credit: Samantha Mercado/Patch