The vote was to determine a debt exclusion that would allow the city to bond out nearly $20 million over 30 years. The Massachusetts School Building Authority will be picking up $42.2 million of the $65 million cost with the balance being covered by a federal grant for a geothermal system. 

 

"We're very excited, and we look forward to moving this project forward, in the best interest of our kids and the future generations of North Adams," said Mayor Jennifer Macksey. 

 

Opponents of taking on the debt are considering appealing. One of the leaders of the effort, Marie T. Harpin, said she thought there were enough irregularities in the close vote to take another look. She referred to a number of voters who had been deemed inactive and other issues. 

 

Both opponents and proponents of the new school, however, were cheered by the amount of engagement they'd seen from the community. 

 

Harpin, a former city councilor and a leader on the vote no side, said she'd spoken to one man who was voting for the first time in four years. 

 

"He was showing up for this vote, so people are concerned," she said. "I think it's probably going to be close. I think there's division in the community, just naturally, so I think it'll be close ...

 

"I have high confidence that a lot of people in the community are seniors and people of low income and are very, very concerned about the higher taxes."

 

The cost of the school on the taxpayers and the city's declining enrollment had played a large part in the lobbying against the project. The borrowing would be outside the limitations of Proposition 2 1/2 and expected to put $200 or more a year on the average tax bill. 

 

They had pointed to the future needs of the city, including a public safety building and other major projects that could be added on. Their argument is that Brayton School, despite needing repairs, can limp along until only one school is needed. 

 

The debate had grown acrimonious over the months and came to a head last week when the administration was accused of hiding revised enrollment numbers that projected a larger drop than presented. These numbers had been publicly reported on but were not used in the presentations to the public. School officials had played down the discrepancy, blaming it on a lack of updated visual aids and that the numbers still showed a need for two schools. 

 

The Massachusetts School Building Authority had not hesitated to endorse funding the project despite the projected decline.  

 

On the other side, proponents have pushed for a modern building as a safer, healthier educational environment for the city's youngest citizens. A new school will attract families, they say, and in fact John "Jack" Wadsworth, a significant investor in the city's economy, bankrolled a large portion of the pro-school's lobbying effort. 

 

Brayton School, built in the mid-'90s, lacks measures such as a sprinkler system or air conditioning, and its heating and ventilation system is outdated. Officials say bringing it even moderately up to code will cost millions the city doesn't have. There's also the question of the now closed Greylock School, which is estimated to cost $1 million to demolish. 

 

"I feel it's been a very strong turnout today, and I'm not sure what that is indicative of — if that means that it's going to pass or not — but I like the fact that people are involved, and they're here voting," said David Bond, one of the leaders of the yes vote.  "I hope people vote yes, but in North Adams, you never know. It's always close."

 

Mayor Jennifer Macksey had inherited the project for her predecessor, Thomas Bernard, and spent the last three years working to bring it to fruition. 

 

Last week, she was optimistic of the vote and Tuesday night was relieved. 

 

"I'd like to just thank my School Building Committee, my School Committee, all of the City Council, the leadership team, and especially Superintendent [Barbara] Malkas, for hanging in there with us and being so diligent about the process and believing in us and believing in the future of North Adams," she said. "And as for the naysayers, I hope we can move beyond this and work together to bring the city forward." 

 

Malkas called it "a win for the city of North Adams."

 

The vote was reminiscent of the vote for borrowing to renovate Conte Middle School 11 years ago that passed by just 137 votes. That had not been a debt exclusion but rather citizens' petition against the City Council's authorization to borrow $29.7 million for what would become Colegrove Park Elementary School. 

 

The total vote in 2014 was 2,645 and in 2024, 2,754, or about a third of the electorate.