Voters To Decide Tax Hike For School Project

The fate of one of Marblehead's oldest schools – dating back nearly a century- is in the hands of town voters. They will decide on June 15 whether to raise their own taxes to build a new Glover Elementary School. It's a property tax override that has a lot of people talking.

Before heading to the polls, here's what you need to know.

The Glover School's main building opened in 1916. Walls and doors are cracked. The school's heating and ventilation systems are so old replacement parts aren't available anymore. Classrooms are too small, according to state standards. The schools two buildings are not handicapped accessible. There's no cafeteria.

Town Meeting overwhelmingly approved a plan to build a new Glover School on the same site. It would hold 425 students in kindergarten through grade three who  currently attend the Glover and Eveleth Schools and open in September 2013.  (The Eveleth School would be used for extra classroom space for now.)

The project's price tag? Nearly $29 million.

The good news is that the state has committed to paying 40 percent. The remaining $17.6 million would be paid for by the override – which would increase property taxes by $126.55 a year (for the median home valued at $512,000) for 20 years.

Mia Kreplick Klein has children at Glover (and even went there herself back in the 1970s).  She knows no one wants to raise taxes, especially in this economic climate, but she says something has to be done.

"If people took the time to see what the current students' learning environment appears to be, they would be horrified to witness paint chipping everywhere, ceilings falling apart, poor ventilation, disgusting old bathrooms … no cafeteria (the children eat in their rooms) and just the overall condition, then they would vote for the override," Kreplick Klein said.

Schools Superintendent Dr. G. Paul Dulac agrees, calling the Glover overcrowded and dilapidated.

"It's important to have a school building that befits the excellent school system we have. People move to Marblehead for the schools and they're surprised to see how run down some of our buildings actually are."

He says there's never a good time to raise taxes. "We have to grit our teeth and do it. It's good for the kids, the town and our property values. There will be a return for our investment."

Selectwoman Judith Jacobi, a retired teacher, is pushing the plan saying the town may never again see a 40 percent reimbursement from the state. (The Glover project has been grandfathered at the 40 percent rate.  If the town doesn't approve the override now, that rate could dip to 33.95 percent in the future.)

"We need to act now and get that 40 percent from the state," Jacobi said.

For voters still on the fence, override supporters are giving residents the option to tour the school and see for themselves. Residents  can take a tour of the Glover School during two open houses being held Saturday, June 5, from 11 a.m. to noon and Wednesday, June 9, from 4 to 7 p.m. School Committee member Patricia Blackmer hopes people will come.

"You'll quickly see why we need a new school for 21^st century learning," Blackmer said. 

In addition to the Glover School Project, voters are facing nine other override questions on the June 15 ballot.

Questions range from $22 million for a new transfer station to $100,000 for sidewalk repair.