The following letter was submitted to the Town Crier on November 9, 2009

Several writers last week expressed concern about Wayland’s $25 million grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) for Wayland High School. With Governor Patrick announcing budget cuts, they questioned whether the state could reduce or eliminate the grant.

As members of the High School Building Committee who have worked closely with MSBA, we’d like to share an excerpt from an email received last week from Emily Mahlman, Director of Communications at the Massachusetts School Building Authority:

"The $27 million that the Governor mentioned last week is not a cut or a 9C reduction.  The Governor does not have the authority to unilaterally reduce the amount of sales tax dedicated to the MSBA."  She goes on to say, "The MSBA has always exercised fiscal restraint with taxpayer dollars and has always budgeted conservatively.  The MSBA had already adjusted our 2010 Financial Plan to account for a reduced sales tax base.  The Wayland project will not be impacted."

The MSBA has announced its commitment to the Wayland project and put it in writing. MSBA officials have assured us repeatedly that funding cuts will not affect projects already committed – it will only affect the funds available to make future commitments.

If Wayland voters approve the High School project next week, Wayland and the MSBA will sign a legal contract, the Project Funding Agreement. Wayland has already received the first reimbursement check for the project phase just completed.

However if Wayland voters reject the project and refuse this grant, the availability of MSBA funds for a future, alternative project grant is very much in question.

For more information about the proposal for Wayland High School, visit the HSBC website at www.waylandschoolcommittee.org/whs/hsbc/index.htm. For information about the MSBA program and to read about its commitment to the Wayland High School project, visit the MSBA website at www.massschoolbuildings.org.

Lea Anderson and Dianne Bladon,

High School Building Committee