Wilbraham Middle School — The Public Record

WARRANT ARTICLES — official voter workbook, p. 12

ARTICLE 52. Proposed Amendment to Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District Agreement. To see if the Town will vote to amend Section III, Paragraph B, of the Regional Agreement, by adding a new subparagraph providing that “Students in Grades 7 or 8, regardless of their town of residence, may be permanently assigned to schools in either Hampden or Wilbraham, including assignment to Minnechaug Regional High School.”; or take any other action relative thereto.

Explanation: This Article would allow the District to assign seventh or eighth grade students to a school outside of their town of residence should that be necessary due to the closure of one or more schools within the Regional School District and could include assignment of such students to Minnechaug Regional High School.

ARTICLE 53. Proposed Amendment to Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District Agreement. To see if the Town will vote to amend Section III, Paragraph B, of the Regional Agreement, by adding a new subparagraph providing that “Students in Grade 6, regardless of their town of residence, may be permanently assigned to schools in either Hampden or Wilbraham”; or take any other action relative thereto.

Explanation: This Article would allow the District to assign sixth grade students to a school outside of their town of residence should that be necessary due to the closure of one or more schools within the Regional School District.

ARTICLE 54. Proposed Amendment to Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District Agreement. To see if the Town will vote to amend Section III, Paragraph B, Subparagraph 2, by changing approval of voluntary requests for transfers from the School Committee to the Superintendent of Schools. The revised language would read: “Students may also be accommodated in other schools within the District when approved by the child’s parents and the Superintendent of Schools provided that the Superintendent determines that such an assignment or reassignment is prudent, can be accomplished, and is in the best interest of the student.”; or take any other action relative thereto.

Explanation: This Article transfers the role of approving voluntary requests by parents for transfers of their students to different schools within the Region from the School Committee to the Superintendent of Schools.

Official-minutes result, p. 9: For each article: “Motion to ‘Move No Action’ passed by unanimous vote.”

Official footnote [1]

MOTION AS TRANSCRIBED IN OFFICIAL MINUTES, p. 1 — separate warrant not located

ARTICLE 2. Approval to Amend Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District Agreement.

Failed by a majority vote.

Vote to amend Section III, Paragraph B, of the Regional Agreement, by adding a new subparagraph providing that "Effective with the start of the 2019-2020 school year, students in grade 8, regardless of their town of residence, will attend school and receive their education at Minnechaug Regional High School. Effective with the start of the 2022-2023 school year, students in grade 7, regardless of their town of residence, will attend school and receive their education at Minnechaug Regional High School."

Presentation made by Al Ganem, Superintendent of Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District. Question and answer session followed, many residents had concerns.

Official footnote [2]

WARRANT ARTICLE — official voter workbook, p. 10

ARTICLE 39. Community Preservation Project for Repair and Improvement of Surface Drainage from the Two Sports Fields East Side of Stony Hill Rd at the Middle School Entrance Driveway. To see if the Town will vote to transfer $55,000 from the CPA Non-Committed category for installation of 5.15 acre subsurface sports field drainage system at the Wilbraham Middle School; or take any other action relative thereto.

Explanation: The two playing fields are the responsibility of Parks and Recreation Department. Both Middle School fields are scheduled for Soccer, Field Hockey and Lacrosse but they flood in the slightest rain storm making the surface unplayable. Practice, games and tournaments must be cancelled or postponed. Field maintenance activities like mowing and grooming cannot be performed when the surface is soft and the machines sink into the soaked turf. Parks and Recreation suggests starting the excavation project after 2019 Fall sports are completed. Work will be done through the winter so the drainage installation is completed by Spring 2020. Once completed there would not be any increase in field maintenance costs.

Finance Committee Recommendation: Finance Committee Recommends Approval of this Article.

Official-minutes result, p. 7: “Passing by majority vote to transfer $55,000 from the CPA Non-Committed category for installation of 5.15 acre subsurface sports field drainage system at the Wilbraham Middle School.”

Official footnote [3]

MOTION AS TRANSCRIBED IN OFFICIAL MINUTES, pp. 1-2 — separate warrant not located

ARTICLE 1. Approved by a declared 2/3 vote that the town (i) appropriate the sum of $ 1,520,939 from the Town’s Stabilization Fund to be paid to the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District to be used to pay for a portion of the costs of the Project defined below, and (ii) approves the borrowing authorized by the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District, for the purpose of paying costs of the replacement of roofs at the Wilbraham Middle School, 466 Stony Hill Road, Wilbraham, MA 01095, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto (the “Project”), which proposed repair project would materially extend the useful life of the school and preserve an asset that otherwise is capable of supporting the required educational program, and for which the District has applied for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), said amount to be expended under the direction of the School Committee; that the Town acknowledges that the MSBA’s grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and if the MSBA’s Board of Directors votes to invite the District to collaborate with the MSBA on this proposed repair project, any project costs the District incurs in excess of any grant that may be approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the District; and that, if invited to collaborate with the MSBA on the proposed repair project, the amount of borrowing authorized pursuant to this vote shall be reduced by any grant amount set forth in the Project Funding Agreement that may be executed between the District and the MSBA.

Passing by declared two-third vote to appropriate a sum of money as printed in Article 1 of the Warrant.

Official footnote [4]

FINAL MOTION — official motions packet, p. 4

MOTION [BOILARD]: Appropriation for capital outlays. Move that the Town appropriates $ 275,000 to pay costs of the following capital outlay items:

Public Buildings DPW GARAGE $ 200,000

Equipment WMS ROOFTOP HVAC UNIT $ 75,000

including the payment of all costs incidental and related thereto; and that to meet this appropriation, the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, is authorized to borrow $275,000 in accordance with Chapter 44 of the Massachusetts General Laws, or pursuant to any other enabling authority, and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefore. Any premium received by the Town upon the sale of any bonds or notes approved by this vote, less any such premium applied to the payment of the costs of issuance of such bonds or notes, may be applied to the payment of costs approved by this vote in accordance with Chapter 44, Section 20 of the General Laws, thereby reducing the amount authorized to be borrowed to pay such costs by a like amount. (2/3rd Vote.)

Official-minutes result, p. 3: “passing by a declared two-third vote by the Moderator.”

Official footnote [5]

MOTION AS TRANSCRIBED IN OFFICIAL MINUTES, pp. 3-4 — separate warrant/final-motion sheet not located

ARTICLE 14. Capital Projects from Free Cash – Finance Committee Recommends: Passing by majority vote that the Town vote to appropriate from available funds (Free Cash 2020), $829,100 $894,100 to fund the following Projects in Fiscal Year 2021:

[UNRELATED CAPITAL SCHEDULE ROWS OMITTED FROM THIS DISPLAY; see complete official minutes.]

HWRSD Middle School $100,000

Replace Vinyl Asbestos Tile / With Vinyl composite tile

[REMAINING UNRELATED CAPITAL SCHEDULE ROWS OMITTED FROM THIS DISPLAY; see complete official minutes.]

Official footnote [6]

FINAL MOTION — official final-motions packet, pp. 7-8

MOTION [DUCEY]: Move that the Town vote to appropriate from available funds (Free Cash 2024), $1,777,063 to fund the following Projects in Fiscal Year 2026:

[UNRELATED CAPITAL SCHEDULE ROWS OMITTED FROM THIS DISPLAY; see complete official final-motions packet.]

Middle School Wireless Access Points $ 48,000 $ 48,000

Official-minutes result, p. 5: “Motion passed by majority, so declared the Moderator”

Official footnote [7]

FINAL MOTION — official final-motions packet, pp. 5-6

Article 20 Motion #2: Motion without the two School Roof Projects:

MOTION [BUNNELL]: Move that the Town vote to appropriate from available funds (Free Cash 2025), $2,843,000 to fund the following Projects in Fiscal Year 2027:

[UNRELATED CAPITAL SCHEDULE ROWS OMITTED FROM THIS DISPLAY; see complete official final-motions packet.]

Middle School Exterior Doors $ 40,000 $128,500

Sidewalk Repairs $ 35,000

Switch Upgrades $ 53,500

Official-minutes result, p. 5: “Motion #2 of Article 20 passed by majority, so declared the Moderator”

Official footnote [8]