New Northeast Metro Tech school construction project gets overwhelming support at polls

Over 83% of voters in 12 communities back funding $317M new facility; wins in Malden, Saugus & Revere

  A new, state-of-the-art Northeast Metro Tech will become a reality in about three years, when construction on the new school is complete in Wakefield. Voters in the 12 sending districts, including The Advocate readership communities of Malden, Revere and Saugus, supported funding the proposed $317.4 million project in a resounding “yes” in a special election held Tuesday.

  Unofficial results released Tuesday night showed residents in the 12 communities authorized, by a vote of 7,486 for the project and 1,568 votes against, to go to bonding to pay the costs for the design, construction and furnishing of a new Northeast Metro Tech and athletic fields. Of the 12 sending districts, 11 overwhelmingly voted in favor of the project. Chelsea was the sole dissenter, as the majority of voters tallied ballots against the project. Northeast Metro Tech is located in Wakefield. Its sending communities include The Advocate cities of Malden, Saugus and Revere, as well as Chelsea, Melrose, North Reading, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield, Winchester, Winthrop and Woburn.

  The balloting did feature very low turnouts, with just 2.7% of Malden residents casting votes, pretty much par for the course with an overall turnout in the 12-district communities hovering around 3%. Malden’s voters were aligned with the overall favorable percentage, with 81.5% voting “yes” for the project. Unofficial results from Malden were similar to those around the district, with 668 voting in favor of the proposal and 151 voting against it. This result was expected, as Malden city officials, including a number of members of the Malden City Council, voiced public support of the project.

  In Saugus, 7% of registered voters went to the polls on Tuesday with 921 votes cast for a new Northeast Metro Tech, with 547 votes opposed. This total represents 64% of Saugus voters in favor of local funding to support the Northeast Metro Tech School.

  Voters in Revere also supported the new Northeast Metro Tech facility. Unofficial results of that vote were not immediately available at press time.

  Factoring in a $141 million grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority, the dozen cities and towns will pick up the remaining $176 million of the cost for the construction of a state-of-the-art Northeast Metro Tech adjacent to the existing school in Wakefield.

  Northeast Metro Tech Superintendent-Director David DiBarri said he is thrilled at the overwhelming support voters showed for the project on Tuesday. “We are deeply grateful to the voters in our 12 sending districts for their participation in today’s vote,” DiBarri said. “Their collective support of a new school building, and for securing a vision for a 21st century career technical education that will position our students for success after graduation,” he added.

  The new Northeast Metro Tech will jump capacity from about 1,280 to 1,600 students and will address outdated building systems and realize code compliance upgrades while featuring 21st-century learning environments, improved Individualized Education Program (IEP) accommodations, state-of-the-art shop space, expanded program offerings, a new primary access roadway from Farm Street to reduce traffic congestion, a full-size gym, a 750-seat auditorium, outdoor space for learning and a new cafeteria. New athletic fields adjacent to the new school are also part of the overall project.