Easthampton wants to build a new school on a swamp where White Brook Middle School now is, which is sinking and has mold.
The city says there is new technology to prepare the soil but there are engineering doubts because there’s no bedrock. One aspect of the traffic report about the new school got an “F” rating.
The new high school isn’t paid off yet. With the new school, people’s taxes will go up an average of as much as $877. This will severely hurt the elderly on fixed incomes. The city offers a tax break, but you have to be in poverty to get it.
And all the kids from kindergarten through Grade 8 will be in one building — a shooter’s or bomb-builders dream.
Finally, Easthampton wants to raise water and sewer rates and may have a water runoff tax like Northampton.
This is a good idea? How?
William Archambeault
Easthampton