Voters Approve McCall Middle School Override

Winchester voters overwhelmingly approved a proposition 2 1/2 override for the McCall Middle School Tuesday. The decision means Phase 2 of improvements to the town's middle school can begin immediately.

The yes voters totaled 1,149, with no votes at 579. There were 66 blank ballots.

The $10.7 million debt-exclusion ballot question addresses a growing middle school population in town. The money will go to increasing classroom and cafeteria space, add a teacher work/meeting room, add athletic team rooms along with public restrooms, and fund a traffic study. The project would be completed by 2020. Phase 1 of the project is already underway. Phase 2 now has the go-ahead as well.

In the race for two seats on the School Committee, Brian Vernaglia won with 1,189 votes followed by Zeina Alame Marchant with 1,047. Vernaglia and Marchant earned 3-year terms on the School Committee. Karina Money was third with 534 votes. There were 812 blank votes.

In the Planning Board race, Elizabeth Cregger finished first with 1,111 votes with Maureen Meister second with 1,036 votes. Cregger and Meister each won 3-year terms on the Planning Board. Anthony Conte was third with 564 votes.

Current Board of Selectman Michael Bettencourt won re-election with 1,173 votes. Jacqueline Welch also won a seat on the board with 1,009 votes.

In races that were uncontested, Peter Haley (Moderator), Paul Manganaro (Assessor), Shannon Rogan Bottari (Board of Health), Jane Murray (Library Trustee), and Stephen Carr Anderson (Housing Authority) all won easily.

In Question 2, voters approved a name change from the Board of Selectmen to the Select Board. Supporters of the change had 1,264 votes to 434 opposed.