New $305 million Bristol-Plymouth school project approved in Saturday’s voting

TAUNTON, Mass. (WLNE)- Voters across Bristol County voted in favor of a $305 million project that would build a new building for Bristol-Plymouth Technical School in Taunton.

Residents from Berkley, Bridgewater, Dighton, Middleborough, Raynham, Rehoboth, and Taunton voted on the project Saturday.

“As a District we are grateful to our sending communities for their support of a new school building, and ensuring a 21st century career technical education for future generations at Bristol-Plymouth,” Superintendent Dr. Alexandre Magalhaes said.

The school will be getting a new building 50 years after being built in 1972.

The vote was close. There were 3,353 “yes” votes in favor of a new building for B-P, while 3,047 voted “no.” In total, 52.4% of voters voted to approve the project.

The total votes across the seven communities are as follows:

Berkley:

• Yes: 172
• No: 329
• Total voted yes: 34.3%

Bridgewater:

• Yes: 365
• No: 160
• Total voted yes: 69.5%

Dighton:

• Yes: 309
• No: 573
• Total voted yes: 35%

Middleboro:

• Yes: 371
• No: 264
• Total voted yes: 58.4%

Raynham:

• Yes: 475
• No: 420
• Total voted yes: 53.1%

Rehoboth:

• Yes: 257
• No: 613
• Total voted yes: 29.5%

Taunton:

• Yes: 1404
• No: 688
• Total voted yes: 67.1%

The Massachusetts School Building Association provided a grant of $125.5 million, leaving the remaining $179.9 million to be paid by residents of the seven cities and towns.

Residents of cities and towns that voted “no,” will still be required to pay for the project.

The new building will be in the same place as the old, on Hart Street in Taunton.