Town Pays Off Debt on School Renovation Projects

Come the end of Fiscal Year 2012, the Town of Westwood will have paid off the debt surrounding renovations at two of the town's elementary schools.

About 10 years ago, was approved for a $7.2 million renovation project, while was approved for $6.3 million, according to Westwood Finance Director Pam Dukeman. 

The work itself involved an updating of the two schools' heating systems, as well as adding classrooms, among other renovations. 

"They were pretty big projects," Dukeman said. We issued 10-year bonds to pay for these. We're in the final year of the bond. It's nice to be finished."

Both project were actually completed 10 years ago, Dukeman added, and the town has since been making the yearly payments. 

The state, meanwhile, paid about 59 percent of the costs, Dukeman said, as part of the state's School Building Assistance Program through the Massachusetts School Building Authority.