Democratic Town Committee

Franklin, Massachusetts
Monday, February 13, 2012

Expressing the sense of the Franklin Democratic Town Committee in support of the New Franklin High School debt exclusion

The following resolution was adopted by the Franklin Democratic Town Committee

Resolution
WHEREAS, The current FHS facility is aging and requires significant renovation or replacement; WHEREAS, Franklin has an opportunity to build a new, fully furnished and equipped high school with a state reimbursement rate of 59.52 percent, taking full advantage of historic low construction and borrowing costs and protecting our property values; WHEREAS, The new school will remove Franklin High from accreditation warning status and meet all future needs including: 20 percent more core educational space; 21st century classrooms and science labs with integrated technology; an 830-seat auditorium/theater; a 17,700-square-foot gym and 6,000-square-feet-indoor walking track; and, full

compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act for access and special education; WHEREAS, Our country needs a more educated workforce and a facility that will be able to teach math and science in a 21st century environment and one that will accommodate our growing arts, sports, and technological programs; WHEREAS, The proposed facility meets the needs of the students to compete in a technologically advanced, global economy and to attract the best teachers; WHEREAS, after diligent study of the alternatives, Franklin is pursuing a Model School which provides additional state reimbursement and minimizes the risk of costly change orders and delays; WHEREAS, The current learning environment will remain intact throughout the project and students will transition into the new building within approximately 24 months from groundbreaking; and WHEREAS, If the proposed plan were not approved, the remaining alternatives would be more costly, including the potential for a loss of MSBA reimbursement funds, the likelihood of higher interest rates, and additional costs to maintain the current facility;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Franklin Democratic Town Committee endorses this project and calls upon the citizens of Franklin to vote yes on March 27, 2012 to approve the debt exclusion for a new Franklin High and provide our students with a 21st century learning environment. FRANKLIN DEMOCRATIC TOWN COMMITTEE BY: JEFFREY N. ROY CHAIRPERSON