The updated school design includes flat roofs, squared off facade, and fewer windows
On March 3rd, voters of Barnard, Bridgewater, Killington, Plymouth, Pomfret, Reading, and Woodstock will vote on a bond to rebuild the Woodstock Union High School and Middle School.
Sustainable Woodstock is in favor of a new school not only because of the sustainability of the building itself, but because of what a new building represents for the long-term sustainability of our community. A thriving community is one where the local school acts as a hub of resources, boosting social connections with more engaged neighbors. A local school increases property values and attracts young families to our area. A local school builds relationships between community organizations, students, teachers, and families.
More Reasons Why We Support a New School:
- A new school is more sustainable: The new school would be energy efficient, and the building would be 100% electric. The HVAC system would be a hybrid system of geothermal and water-sourced heat pumps, and the energy used by that system would be offset by solar arrays. There would be solar on the roof of the building, and an additional off-site array built in the future could make the building net-zero energy. A new building lowers our emissions and sets an example for students and the community. In the long term, a new building also protects taxpayers from the wild price swings of fossil fuels.
- Lower long-term costs: The current building is now ranked the worst physical school building in Vermont, and patchwork repairs will ultimately cost more–in the past five years, the district has invested nearly $3 million into WUHS just to keep the doors open. The current building is also ineligible for major state construction aid for renovations.
- Risk of losing the school: Without a new building, we run the risk of losing our school, depending on how state redistricting proceeds. Losing the school will mean losing a major area employer, as well as a community hub.
- Students and staff are learning in unsafe, failing buildings: As just one example: waste lines are breaking, which means they are no longer able to push out all the waste from the building. This past winter, sewage backed up into the girls’ and boys’ locker rooms, custodial closet, and steam tunnels. 20% of the building was shut down as a result.
Sustainable Woodstock supports a “yes” vote in favor of a new school. We hope that you will get out and vote for the bond on Tuesday, March 3rd.
Learn more
- In February, Sustainable Woodstock held a virtual Green Drinks event on plans for a new school–you can watch that recording here.
- Visit the Mountain Views Supervisory Union’s website to learn more and view resources, including a list of frequently asked questions.
- Read the letter to the community from the Mountain Views School Board.