The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School secured Island-wide approval for a $2 million feasibility study to renovate or replace the high school when Aquinnah approved its contribution during a special town meeting on Wednesday.
With support now from all six towns, the high school can seek a 38 per cent reimbursement from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) program to help cover costs of the study. After applying for six years, the school was approved for the program in March 2022 but was not eligible for financial assistance without a consensus from the entire Island.
“Tonight’s vote, as it has been in the previous five towns, is a culmination of seven years of hard work by the district,” said Sam Hart, director of Pathways and special projects at the high school, who is helping to lead the school’s partnership with the MSBA.
Aquinnah also signed on to the high school’s updated regional cost-sharing agreement, which breaks down each town’s share of the feasibility study and includes changes to school language and enrollment tallying methods.
“This document has not been changed since 1994,” explained school finance director Mark Friedman. “Most of the changes represent updates to this document in order to come into compliance with current Department of Elementary and Secondary Education regulations.”
The town additionally voted to declare Juneteenth and Cranberry Day official town holidays and change the designation of Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day.
The last two articles on the warrant, which proposed amendments to two zoning bylaws regarding residential accessory dwelling units and the governance of town-owned properties, were postponed indefinitely.
The meeting was adjourned by 7:48 p.m.
The annual town meeting takes place on May 9 at 7 p.m. at the Aquinnah Town Hall. The town election is on May 11.
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