Woburn Voters Face Last Day To Register For Special Election

WOBURN, MA — Wednesday is the final day to vote in this month's special election whether to fund a new regional vocational school.

District officials from the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School in Wakefield are seeking money to build a $317 million school. The Massachusetts School Building Authority is pitching in up to $140.8 million toward the overall cost.

Woburn is one of 12 communities that sends students to Northeast Metro Tech. A majority of voters across the dozen cities and towns — Melrose, Chelsea, Malden, North Reading, Reading, Revere, Saugus, Stoneham, Wakefield, Winchester, Winthrop, and Woburn — must vote in favor of funding the project for it to pass.

Each community will be responsible for paying off the school's debt based on anticipated student enrollment. Woburn would be responsible for $15.7 million in borrowing, based on its share of the school's enrollment. That would mean $900,000 per year in debt service over 30 years.

Woburn is among the communities that already approved the project, but officials in Saugus and Chelsea voted against authorizing the payment, triggering the special election.

The election is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 25, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the old Wyman Elementary School, Main Street and Eaton Avenue.

Residents can register to vote by 8 p.m. Wednesday online here or by visiting the City Clerk's Office, City Hall, 10 Common Street. The clerk's office will be open until 8 p.m. for the final day of voter registration.

The new building will allow the school to increase its enrollment by 26 percent, from 1,270 to 1,600. That is expected to dramatically shorten the district's waitlist, which is about 400 students annually.

The current building has not had any significant renovations, additions or improvements since its construction in 1968.

The biggest issues facing Northeast Metro are overcrowding, an inability to accommodate IEPs, outdated facilities and programming and failing mechanical and electrical systems, according to the school.

The project is being partially funded by the Massachusetts School Building Authority, which helps support capital improvement projects.

The new Northeast Metro would bring the school into ADA compliance and make it able to offer expanded programs and IEP accommodations. It would also include a new primary access road from Farm Street to help with traffic, outdoor learning, a new cafeteria, auditorium and gym and more.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.