ROCHESTER — Following the Rochester and Acushnet town meetings that were both held on Monday, May 22, Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School Superintendent Aaron Polansky feels “an amazing sense of relief.”

Both towns, along with Mattapoisett, Carver and Lakeville, voted to allocate funds toward a proposed $1 million feasibility study that will look at the need for renovations or even new construction at Old Colony. 

Old Colony opened its doors in 1975 and since then, it has had no significant improvements and many of the school’s systems have “surpassed their useful life,” said Polansky.

Polansky said that while the building has been “well-maintained,” the “bones” of the structure are starting to falter.

According to Polansky, if even one town voted against the measure, it would not have happened. 

“I had complete faith in our towns to support it but then there was a piece of me that knew if [for] some reason it didn’t pass that it would be a very heavy weight to carry,” said Polansky. “I just want the best for our kids and our staff.”

Old Colony is putting up $500,000 from its stabilization fund and taking on $500,000 of debt to pay for the study. Towns are being asked to pay for that debt over five years in amounts proportionate to their respective enrollments at Old Colony. 

According to Polansky, Rochester will pay approximately $100,000. Mattapoisett, which is also a member of the Old Colony district, will pay approximately $49,000.

This would amount to approximately $20,000 per year for Rochester and slightly under $10,000 per year for Mattapoisett.

“Now I know that we have to get to work,” he said. “It’s going to be a lot. There are a lot of stakeholder meetings and the real work begins now that the vote has been cast.”