The Martha's Vineyard Regional High School. —Nick Vukota

The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) Building Committee is holding public tours of the school prior to a district-wide vote on June 2.

The MVRHS building project is a proposed full-scale renovation and addition of the structure that school officials say is far below educational standards set by the state. It is the largest high school on the Vineyard, with over 700 students enrolled. 

At an estimated total of $333.5 million, the cost of the building proposal is the highest the Island community’s ever seen. Property-owning taxpayers in each town are ultimately responsible for around $256 million of that total plus $180 million in interest over 30 years of payments. Many locals have expressed concerns about the burden of the high price tag. 

School officials, however, have pointed out that the conditions of the current building, which was built in 1959, are past their use. According to them, the repairs have to happen, whether through a state-approved building project or at a comparable cost later on. Leaks and floods are frequent, mold is visible on the ceilings and walls, asbestos is under the floorboards, and classroom sizes are smaller than state requirements. Those conditions and other information about the school building project are part of the discussion and will be shown to the public during the scheduled tours. 

The dates are as follows, and can also be found listed here:

  • MVRHS Building Tour: Saturday, May 23, 3 pm to 4 pm
  • MVRHS Building Tour: Wednesday, May 27, 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
  • Community Info Session in West Tisbury: Thursday, May 28, 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm at the West Tisbury Public Library
  • MVRHS Building Tour: Saturday, May 30, 3 pm to 4 pm

One reply on “Tours of high school prior to June 2 vote”

  1. Below is my opinion based on 48 years of experience in the building trades.
    I took a tour of the high school five years ago with the facilities manger, Mike Taus.
    Mike and I went a couple of hundred yards which was all I needed.
    1. Heating system needs to be replaced.
    2. The electric system needs to be replaced
    3. The plumbing pipes & hot water boilers need to be replaced.
    4. All the windows & exterior doors need to be replaced
    5. The wall & ceiling insulation is minimal
    6. The walls & ceilings are loaded with mould
    7. The roofing needs to be replaced along
    With the rotted areas of sheathing
    8 The school’s internet required for education is basic
    We either rebuild now per the plans developed or do this work a bit at a time.
    I always told my clients that doing the work once & correctly creates a better finished product and is less expensive.
    Please support our kids vote for the MVRHS renovation

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