To the editor:

Affordability – This was the term I heard around town this week. Impact – Warrenites are now realizing they made a very big mistake. 

Fact: The Bristol Warren Regional School District (BWRSD) still requires a loan for maintenance and academic improvements for our three elementary buildings, middle school, and high school. If we do not build a brand-new high school the district would still receive at least 63% reimbursement. 

Can we put on an addition at the high school instead? Can we reduce the loan amount? Simply put, circumstances have changed substantially.

Unknowns are a big risk, such as:

• Warren may need to take out a loan just to pay its bills.
• How will Warren’s financial situation impact the BWRSD ability to secure a loan?
• Construction overruns due to material costs and/or change orders – the original addition to MHHS came in double that of the original estimates — $6 million over.
• We are building a SMALLER high school with the potential for large developments in Bristol/Warren due to the 2024 zoning changes in favor of affordable housing.
• The BWRSD annual budget increase – It was held to 2% this year – next year we will NOT be so lucky, due to deferred Chromebook purchases, contractual obligations, reduction in state aid due to declining school enrollment and COVID funding running dry will all contribute to bringing Warren’s contribution close to the 4% cap before we even look at municipal needs.

What do we do?

We raise these concerns to our elected town and school officials (Warren’s voices) and we keep sharing and talking about the information. When we stop asking questions, we stop our ability to affect change. 

The loan will be paid off in 2058. What will Warren look like then?

Tara Thibaudeau
Main Street