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On Nov. 18, residents of Acushnet, Carver, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, and Rochester will vote on a proposed new facility for Old Colony Regional Vocational school. The proposed facility will replace aging infrastructure andeexpand enrollment and trade offerings.
Given the demand for skilled labor and the deficiencies of the current building, a new Old Colony facility is a good investment in the local economy. Expanding trades to offer a complete construction program, along with dental assisting, will benefit the region as a whole, and offer a good, college-optional track for more local students.
The current state of the facility is not meeting the needs of students, or the regional economic demands. And the additional proposed trade offerings of plumbing, HVAC, and dental assisting were informed by the 2024 South East Regional Workforce Blueprint.
The demand for vocational education is strong. The region is also experiencing an unprecedented demand for skilled labor at a time when many laborers are aging out of the workforce.
There is, however, reasonable cause for concern about the cost. The new facility will increase real estate taxes in the district communities for the duration of the bond, and other schools in district communities may require substantial maintenance or replacement during this time, compounding financial stress.
The choice facing voters on Nov. 18 is not between spending and saving, but between investing now or paying more later. A vote for the new Old Colony facility is a vote for regional economic resilience.
Colleen Trahan is a resident of Mattapoisett. Read her full opinion article here.
Dig a little deeper and tell your readers the cost of building this school under Maura Healey’s Green Energy Regulations. A good idea would be to wait for Healey to get voted out of office and then the taxpayers will save money on building and operation costs.