The cost of renovating Nauset Regional High School in Eastham, Mass., is significantly more than anticipated when voters approved funding in 2021, so the Nauset district has gone back to voters for additional funding.
The Cape Cod Chronicle reports that voters in Orleans, Brewster, Eastham and Wellfleet passed ballot questions this week to secure an additional $38.1 million for the high school upgrade.
The election was the second called for the high school project since March 2021. In that first election, voters in the four district towns voted to support spending $131.8 million to pay for the renovation. The Massachusetts School Building Authority is also committing $36.6 million toward the project, leaving the cost for district taxpayers at $95.2 million.
But in October, the general contractor bids for project construction came in almost $30 million higher than anticipated, largely because of supply chain shortages and inflation.
With the additional funding secured, School Committee Chair Chris Easley said it’s possible that modular classrooms could be set up to accommodate students and teachers over February break, and that contractors could begin work shortly afterward.
