Residents to Vote on New Hillside School

NEEDHAM, MA — Voters November will have a chance to decide of Needham will construct a new elementary school.

Last week, the selectmen voted to place a debt exclusion question on the Nov. 8 ballot. Residents will be asked to approve a debt exclusion for the new Hillside Elementary School. Unlike a proposition 2 1/2 override, a debt exclusion asks voters to approve a temporary tax increase for capital projects. The tax is taken off tax rolls once the debt is paid off.

In addition, the Massachusetts School Building Authority approved a $13 million grant to help cover the costs of the $66 million project.

If built as proposed, the building will be a three-story, K-5 facility on Central Avenue. School officials are looking to replace the current building, which suffers from deficiencies in major building systems including poor energy efficiency; outdated mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems; and the presence of hazardous materials, according to a release from the MSBA.