Which is cheaper: renovating two schools or building one new consolidated school? Is there any viable plan that will cost taxpayers less?

Watch Eric Tracy answer the question HERE, begins at the 8:10 minute-mark.

The School Building Committee did not pursue renovating the current elementary schools because renovations would not meet the Educational Plan's expectations or provide enough space for specialized programs.

Upgrading Cutler and Winthrop would cost an estimated $45–$49 million each and still fall short on space and quality. These estimates assume the work starts soon, not years from now, and the MSBA would not reimburse for basic repairs, as they don’t support the Educational Plan. In contrast, a new, consolidated school would cost taxpayers about $92.5 million and qualify for significant MSBA reimbursement. No other plan offers better long-term value. For more details, please see the financial studies on each of the Town’s Finance Committee’s websites.