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Haverhill
Pressure on mayor to accept state money for Haverhill High; Would bring computers to classrooms, new lockers for students
Published: January 20, 2008
HAVERHILL - The pressure is coming from all sides - local leaders are insisting Mayor James Fiorentini accept $3.6 million in state money to finish repairs to Haverhill High School.
The money would be used to rewire the school's electrical system so every classroom can have a computer, replace 2,800 broken-down student lockers, rebuild the school grounds and driveway, install new floors and paint the building inside and out.
There is a hitch - to get the money, Haverhill must come up with $1.8 million of its own to go toward the repairs. With the city's cash spread thin, Fiorentini is hedging.
He said he is grateful for the money, but he does not know if the city can afford to accept it because it requires the $1.8 million to come from Haverhill. The mayor is projecting a $5.8 million budget shortfall for the fiscal year that starts in July, and a similar deficit the year after that and wonders how the community will make ends meet if it borrows more money.
State Rep. Brian Dempsey, D-Haverhill, said it would be hard to lobby for future state aid if Haverhill turns down the cash, which he and Sen. Steven Baddour, D-Methuen, helped secure. They toured the high school last month with Kathleen Craven, head of the state program that reimburses communities for school construction projects.
"(Craven) was very impressed at how frugal the work was," Dempsey said of the high school renovations so far. "There are no extras, only what was absolutely needed. It's very unusual for the state to give more money for this kind of a project."
Fiorentini said he is seeking more information from the state about the new money, such as when it has to be spent and when the city's share is due.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for the city, and we want to take advantage of as much of this additional funding as we can afford," he said. "Once we have the details, we can make a final decision on which way we are going to proceed."
Since the mayor raised concerns about accepting the money two weeks ago, the School Committee and High School Building Committee have voted to endorse accepting all of it. In his Jan. 2 inauguration speech, City Council President Michael Hart said the city would be smart to take it all.
"Sooner or later, we will have to complete the high school project," Hart said. "We can pay 30 percent of the cost now, or 100 percent of the cost later."
The money would be used to rewire the school's electrical system so every classroom can have a computer, replace 2,800 broken-down student lockers, rebuild the school grounds and driveway, install new floors and paint the building inside and out.
There is a hitch - to get the money, Haverhill must come up with $1.8 million of its own to go toward the repairs. With the city's cash spread thin, Fiorentini is hedging.
He said he is grateful for the money, but he does not know if the city can afford to accept it because it requires the $1.8 million to come from Haverhill. The mayor is projecting a $5.8 million budget shortfall for the fiscal year that starts in July, and a similar deficit the year after that and wonders how the community will make ends meet if it borrows more money.
State Rep. Brian Dempsey, D-Haverhill, said it would be hard to lobby for future state aid if Haverhill turns down the cash, which he and Sen. Steven Baddour, D-Methuen, helped secure. They toured the high school last month with Kathleen Craven, head of the state program that reimburses communities for school construction projects.
"(Craven) was very impressed at how frugal the work was," Dempsey said of the high school renovations so far. "There are no extras, only what was absolutely needed. It's very unusual for the state to give more money for this kind of a project."
Fiorentini said he is seeking more information from the state about the new money, such as when it has to be spent and when the city's share is due.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for the city, and we want to take advantage of as much of this additional funding as we can afford," he said. "Once we have the details, we can make a final decision on which way we are going to proceed."
Since the mayor raised concerns about accepting the money two weeks ago, the School Committee and High School Building Committee have voted to endorse accepting all of it. In his Jan. 2 inauguration speech, City Council President Michael Hart said the city would be smart to take it all.
"Sooner or later, we will have to complete the high school project," Hart said. "We can pay 30 percent of the cost now, or 100 percent of the cost later."
School Committee President Kerry Fitzgerald said the committee doesn't have much of a role in the decision except to "endorse and advocate."
"The mayor is really the final decision-maker in this," she said. "He said he wants to do it but doesn't know if we can afford it."
Fitzgerald and Fiorentini agree improving the building's electrical system is the top priority.
"We don't want to delay the electricity," Fitzgerald said. "It needs to be done for our kids to be able to utilize the technology that is available now."
The state money would be in addition to the larger Haverhill High $27.4 million repair project, much of which is done. Haverhill owes $7.8 million on that work, with the state paying the rest. For the next 20 years, the city will make annual payments that range from $1 million this year to $416,852 in 2028 - decreasing each year. The city's annual loan payments will increase by $135,000 if it borrows another $1.8 million - the requirement of the new state offer, city Finance Director Chuck Benevento said.
So far the four-year-old renovation features new systems to clean the air and heat and cool the school, several new science laboratories, new security features and improvements to allow better access for people who are physically disabled.
The project was designed to address concerns raised in 1998 when the New England Association of Schools and Colleges threatened to revoke the high school's accreditation. The original $55 million renovation was rejected by Haverhill voters, leading to a scaled-down project that only addressed the concerns of the accrediting group.
In 1998, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges threatened to revoke the high school's accreditation if the city did not address long-standing concerns, such as poor air quality, handicap access and outdated science laboratories. The phased renovation, which was approved after voters rejected the tax override, was designed to modernize the building by providing better security, improved accommodations for students with disabilities, more efficient heating and cooling systems, cleaner air and modern science laboratories. School officials said they expect the building will be removed from accreditation probation sometime next year.
PG1 BOX
What $5.4 million buys for Haverhill High
2,800 new lockers for students
Two generators to provide emergency power
New electrical systems to provide computer capability in every classroom
A new driveway with separate entrances and exits for cars and buses
Outside lights, including in parking lots
New floor tiles and paint
A new Haverhill High School sign
NOTE: State would pay $3.6 million; city to pay $1.8 million.
