The Martha's Vineyard Times
Temporary classrooms needed, but how many?
Tisbury School project is heading to voters in June; portable classrooms considered for West William Street.
Updated Feb. 13
At a joint meeting of Tisbury’s school committee and select board Tuesday night, clarity was in short order, despite a proclamation by school committee chair Amy Houghton that the voters need clear information.
“Let’s make the information clear and available to anyone who lives in the town to understand why this project is so critical,” Houghton said.
Right after saying that, Houghton declined to solidify her sentiment in a motion. The joint Zoom session, which was heavily attended, took place as part of a regular select board meeting, one that stretched across three hours. Roughly half an hour of that time was devoted to the Tisbury School building project, and the temporary classroom facility that would be necessary for the school to function once the project breaks ground. Select board chair Jim Rogers made note the need for temporary classrooms is likely to persist whether or not the $53 million renovation and addition project, which has been estimated at $55 with temporary classrooms, survives the ballot box. Rogers said the reasons the temporary classrooms could still be needed were twofold: because the pandemic may continue, and because of the contaminants in the old school.