Man About Canton: New Schools Are Expensive

DID YOU KNOW…

There is no question. It costs a lot of money to build or renovate a school building today, as evidenced by our recent Canton High School renovation, which cost Canton taxpayers over $40 million. In recent years, school construction costs have been getting out of hand. For instance, the most expensive public high school in the nation’s history will open its doors to students this month in Los Angeles. The Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools, which cost taxpayers $578 million, will house 4,200 students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The complex is built on the site of the Ambassador Hotel, where Kennedy was assassinated by Sirhan Sirhan on June 5, 1968. The school features fine art marble, a marble memorial to Kennedy, a manicured public park, a state-of-the-art swimming pool, and pieces of the original hotel. Nationwide, construction of dozens of new schools has surpassed $10 million, with outrageous amenities including atriums, orchestra-pit auditoriums, and food courts.

However, sanity may be returning, at least here in Massachusetts. The new $197.5 million Newton North High School caused such a critical uproar that new construction rules have been changed, and school districts must now choose among three basic designs costing between $49 million and $64 million. So if we are thinking of building a new elementary school in Canton, beware and guard your pocketbook.

Since the voter-approved ban on greyhound racing in Massachusetts took effect on January 1, Wonderland, the greyhound dog-racing track in Revere, has finally closed after being in business for 75 years. The track had remained open for simulcasting — patrons could place bets on races being held in other states — but simulcasting receipts apparently did not produce enough revenue to continue Wonderland operations.

There is a police and ASPCA investigation going on in Stoughton concerning the cruel decapitation death of a female swan at Pinewood Pond and the crippling of one of her mate’s legs. MAC hopes the culprit, or culprits, are found and prosecuted so this type of cruel and senseless crime never happens again.

Girl Scout registration for girls in grades K-12 will take place during the library book sale on Saturday, September 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and on Wednesday, September 22, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Canton elementary schools’ open houses. Children don’t have to be present at the open houses to sign up, and private school students are welcome. The fee is $12.

More than 150 members of the public, law enforcement officials, and advocates recently packed the Brockton District Courthouse to overwhelmingly speak out against the State Trial Court’s plans to move the Norfolk Juvenile Court in Dedham to the Stoughton District Courthouse and move Stoughton District Court business to Wrentham. A final decision will be forthcoming.

Now that Labor Day has come and gone, AAA estimates gasoline prices should drop as much as 15 cents per gallon. Let’s hope they drop even more.

The Friends of the Canton Library will sponsor a book sale this coming Saturday, September 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Canton Public Library. For more information, call Deni Garabedian at 781-821-4484, or visit www.dgarabedian@gmail.com.

As of September 1, the Fire Prevention Bureau of the Canton Fire Department has begun a new safety inspection program. The inspection takes about 20 to 30 minutes and will include electrical and heating systems. Canton residents can call Lt. Tom Driscoll at 781-575-6654 to schedule an appointment.

The Norwood Animal Hospital is delivering oxygen masks for animals to the Canton Fire Department to protect household pets. The specially made masks will support the animal until it can be transported to a medical facility. The mask provides oxygen to cats and dogs suffering from injuries such as smoke inhalation from house fires and auto accidents. The masks were given to the Norwood Animal Hospital to be distributed to area fire departments by the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association, whose goal is to make sure every town in Massachusetts has a set of these oxygen masks.

School Superintendent Jeff Granatino recently announced that Canton has accepted five new students from Haiti because of the earthquake there. Three are in the elementary age group and two are in middle school.

The Canton Fire Department and Board of Health will jointly offer a three-hour CPR class on the second Tuesday of each month, beginning this coming Tuesday, September 14. Those who complete the course will receive an American Heart Association card.

Finally, gossip columnists in the Boston Herald recently reported that Andre Tippett, the former Patriots lineman, recently bought three dozen bagels and three tubs of cream cheese at “Life’s a Bagel” at Cobb’s Corner and then went back for replacements when they fell in the parking lot.

Once a new technology rolls over you, if you’re not part of the steamroller, you’re part of the road.

This is all for now folks; see you next week.

Joe DeFelice can be reached at manaboutcanton@aol.com.

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=2734

Posted by Joe DeFelice on Sep 9 2010. Filed under Man About Canton, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.