Dear Island voters, we are writing to ask for your support on June 2, 2026, when you will decide whether to approve an addition-renovation of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. The proposed project totals $333.5 million with funding from the state of approximately $77 million by participating in the Massachusetts School Building Authority grant program, bringing the net cost to approximately $256 million.
Notably, the school district has already received over $400,000 in reimbursements for the feasibility study phase. This funding may not be available again.
What the project includes:
A three-year addition/renovation to address space and mechanical deficiencies with minimal disruption to students.
Updates to the Performing Arts Center and gymnasium.
A new two-story academic wing with appropriately-sized classrooms (as defined by the state), and a new cafeteria and library.
Integrated spaces for our Special Education and Career and Technical Education programs.
No modular classrooms during construction, reducing cost and disruption to daily education.
Long-term borrowing to finance the project.
Why now?
Every design option (20-plus options originally) evaluated during two and a half years by a committee of 25 representatives from every Island town was scrutinized, including a basic code upgrade.
A basic code upgrade exceeded a $200 million base price before borrowing. The project before you after reimbursement is $256 million. The committee ruled out the basic code upgrade as too risky to retain the state reimbursement because it did not meet the school’s defined educational needs in the application to enter the MSBA program.
The $77 million reimbursement is tied to this project only; delays risk losing it entirely as construction costs continue to rise. There are no other projects for consideration today.
The building’s 67 year old mechanical systems are outdated, inefficient and costly to maintain.
Current facilities do not adequately support the school’s diverse educational and community programs.
A code-only upgrade would fail to address critical space deficiencies, making a full addition-renovation the right long-term solution.
During the past two and half years, your voices have shaped every step of this process. This design reflects your input on cost, aesthetics and community needs. Please vote on June 2.
Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Building Committee
This article appears in May 22, 2026.