YOUR THOUGHTS: Wakefield Chooses 'Yes' for a New Galvin

Voters decided by a margin of 4474 to 1020 on June 9th to build a new Galvin Middle School in Wakefield for 2015. Did you support the measure? Why or why not? Is this a good move for the town?

Wakefield Chooses 'Yes' for a New Galvin

Voters decided by a margin of 4474 to 1020 to build a new Galvin Middle School in Wakefield.

Eight years after the last vote the town took on whether or not to build a new middle school, Wakefield voters changed their minds on Saturday: It's finally time for a new Galvin.  The Town of Wakefield approved a debt exclusion on June 9th by a vote of 4474 to 1020, or 81 percent to 18 percent to finance the $74 million project, with $38 million coming from the town and the rest coming from the state.  The current Galvin Middle School is 60 years old, undersized for the amount of students that attend according to state guidelines, and was deemed by the state to require too many major architectural, mechanical, plumbing and electrical system upgrades to renovate.  Building the new school Construction is scheduled to begin in 2013 with a …

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Letter: The Time is Right for a New Galvin

Wakefield Selectman Patrick Glynn writes about why the town should choose to support building a new Galvin Middle School.

Dear Editor, It is a rare occurrence when the School Committee, the Finance Committee and the Board of Selectmen, are unanimous in their support of a project of this size and scale, yet that is the case with the proposed new Galvin Middle School.  In fact since the November 2010 town meeting where citizens unanimously supported the expenditure of $686,400 to fund a feasibility study, in-line with the Mass School Building Authority’s (MSBA) guidelines for projects like the Galvin to receive a construction grant, there has not been one vote opposing this project from any committee having jurisdiction.  The reason for this, aside from the age and condition of the facility, is that the proposed plan is fiscally responsible. Under this plan the…

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Letter: Reaction to 'No New Galvin' Letter

Wakefield resident Fred Rich LaRiccia writes a letter to the editor in reaction to a letter submitted by Board of Selectmen candidate Phyllis Hull to the Wakefield Daily Item.

Dear Editor, I read with wry amusement that nattering nabob of negativism, Phyllis Hull's latest screed to the press (ITEM 2/7/12): " We don't need no new Galvin Middle School, just clean it up." It reminded me of that other ranting entrepreneurial job creator Newt Gingrich's solution to the education labor cost problem. Fire all the union janitors and force poor students to do their jobs. It will build character and instill discipline in 'em. Yeah, that's right! Let's just make the kids work at the Galvin mopping up the rain water from the leaking roof and put a band-aid on the broken down computers. Heck, why not just bring back the abacus while you're at it? Kids don't need all them thar newfangled contraptions anyway. Just readin', …

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State Funding Approved for New Galvin Middle School

The Massachusetts School Building Authority approved a $32.6 million grant for a new middle school in Wakefield and an additional contingency grant, for a total reimbursement rate of 54.6 percent.

The state of Massachusetts has approved its share of funding on Wednesday for a new Galvin Middle School in Wakefield. The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) announced at its March 28th meeting that it will contribute an estimated state grant of $32.6 million to Wakefield's $73.6 million plan for a new middle school. The state also approved an additional $2,057,957 million contingency grant available to the town, which would raise the total state reimbursement to 54.6 percent of elligible costs. This additional grant ensures that Wakefield taxpayers would not be responsible for added costs if the final project total exceeds $74 million. “Today’s vote is the culmination of months of intensive collaboration between Wakefield and …

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Photos: Socialize and Galvinize Night

A group of Wakefield residents believe it's time to "Galvinize Wakefield's future."

On March 22 Angie Sciarappa and Laurie Hunt of RE/MAX Heritage hosted the group Galvinize Wakefield for a kick-off fundraising event at their office at 25 Tuttle Street where plans for the new school were on display.  The show of support for the new middle school project was incredible from a former Selectman to current elected and appointed officials, our Town Administrator, State Representative Paul Brodeur and many community members who are ready to Galvinize Wakefield’s future.  For more information visit www.GalvinizeWakefield.com.

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What's Up, Wakefield?

5 Things: An Invitation to Galvinize, Pop Warner Signups, Job Shadow Day Recap

Five things worth knowing today, Thursday March 22, 2012 in Wakefield, MA.

1. Beach Day - If your employees are suddenly "sick" today, be aware that temps today will reach the mid-80s, according to the National Weather Service. In fact, I think I feel a cough coming on... 2. Election Update - Today is the last day to object to or withdraw nomination papers. The Town Clerk’s Office is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. today. Check out our April 2012 Election Tracker for the latest on who is running for which race this year.  3. Socialize and Galvinize - tonight at RE/MAX Heritage (25 Tuttle St.) when Galivinze Wakefield community group hosts its kick-off social event.  Stop by from 5-8 p.m. for some food, beer & wine and find out about the proposed plans for the new Galvin Middle School. The mission of Galvinize …

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Letter: Community Should Come Together to Build New Galvin

Wakefield resident Colleen Guida writes about the pride she felt when the community came together to build a new World War II Memorial, and how she wants to see the community work together once again to build a new middle school in Wakefield.

This past Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2011,  I had the distinct pleasure of attending the unveiling of a beautiful new Veteran’s War Memorial on the picturesque Wakefield Common. I could not have been more proud of the members of my community who came together and worked hard to make this happen. The ceremony was so well thought out and a fitting tribute to those members of our community who fought and died to uphold the values of our country. Our community took on a challenge and tirelessly worked to make this dream of a new memorial a reality.  Presently, I am reminded of this event in light of the recent articles regarding the construction of a new Galvin Middle School. Now, I am well aware that the scope of the Galvin project does not …

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Poll Results: Build a New Galvin Middle School

Over the last week, we ran a poll asking Wakefield residents whether or not they wanted to build a new Galvin Middle School in town. Here are the results.

Last Thursday, Wakefield Patch asked you whether or not Wakefield should build a brand new middle school. Between then and Fiday afternoon, 198 people voted in the poll. The results?  Five people wrote in the comments section explaining their choice.  What do you think of the results? Keep the conversation going by telling us in the comments section below.

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Poll: Build a New Middle School - Or Not?

Are you in favor of building a new Galvin Middle School in Wakefield, or are you against it? Why?

The debate is heating up in Wakefield over whether or not to build a new Galvin Middle School. The project began with the approval of a feasibility study at last year's town meeting. The study looked at the options the town had to either improve upon the existing building or build a brand new school. After the research had been completed, the Permanent Building Committee and the Galvin Middle School Building Advisory Committee settled on a $74.7 million design, with $35.7 million - or 53 percent - of the cost to be paid by the state through the Massachusetts School Building Authority. Still, residents of Wakefield will be paying for the next middle school to the tune of $175 per household for the next 20 years. Is the cost worth it to …

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Greg Liakos

7:10 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012

Recent coverage of plans to build a new Galvin Middle School crystallizes the choices facing the taxpayers of Wakefield. The question of whether to build a new middle school, much like the recent discussion of the town's broader capital plan, is fundamentally a debate between those who want to move this town forward and those who want it to stand still. It forces all of us to ask: What kind of …   more ›