Tisbury voters headed to the polls in steady numbers Tuesday to make a final decision on the $55 million school renovation that has been a magnet for debate in the Island’s main port town.
Polls are open at the town Emergency Services Facility until 8 p.m. Masks are required.
Voters will also decide a two-way contest for a seat on the select board and a $5 million spending question to update town roadways.
Poll workers said they had seen a steady stream of voters come through the town emergency services building early Tuesday afternoon, describing turnout as strong with a short line constantly refilling at check-in stations.
The inside of the building, limited to a maximum of 13 voters, was quiet, with masks required and sanitized pens a needed accompaniment for clean ballots.
Outside, voters across the town’s demographic spectrum weren’t shy about their enthusiasm for the Tisbury School project as the 3 o’clock hour set in, saying the issue had brought them to the polls on a warm, sunny June day.
“I was really making sure to be here for the school,” said Becky Nutton outside the polling station. “I have two kids who will be students there.”
Ms. Nutton has an incoming kindergartner and a first grader who just started at the Tisbury School. She voted for the previous project in 2018 that narrowly failed at the ballot box.
“We have a chance again,” she said.
Maria Metters, who has worked in special education at the school for the past four years, also came to vote for the project.
“We’ve had our share of hardship,” Ms. Metters said. “I see rooms not being utilized. I’ve watched it deteriorate . . . I think it’s deserving.”
Other voters who had no relationship to the school touted the project as well. Dana Edelman, who recently moved to Vineyard Haven from West Tisbury, and Peter Stam, who grew up in Tisbury but only moved back to town two months ago, both said it was an important project to fund.
David Kann paraphrased a different Tisbury School supporter when asked about the project.
“It’s like Trippy Barnes said [at the annual town meeting]: let’s just vote the goddam thing,” he said.
Early voting for the much-anticipated election was held last Thursday, with strong turnout. It marked the first time early voting was offered for a town election in Tisbury.
Town clerk J. Hillary Conklin reported Monday that 301 voters had cast ballots in person early, with about 25 absentee and mail-in ballots already received for the election and more to come.
A total of 3,642 voters are registered in town.
“I can see that there’s definitely greater interest in this election,” Ms. Conklin told the Gazette by phone Monday. “Traditionally, if there’s a selectmen’s race, there is a big turnout. And then, with the added ballots questions, there’s going to be additional interest.”
Topping the ballot is the much-discussed $55 million borrowing request to renovate and overhaul the Tisbury School building. The questions asks voters to exempt the debt from the provisions of Proposition 2 1/2.
A previous school project in 2018 failed at the ballot box by 21 votes.
The question passed overwhelmingly — 237-5 — at a special town meeting on June 13. Majority approval is needed at the ballot box.
Voters will also decide between one-term incumbent James (Jim) Rogers and Roy Cutrer Jr. for the select board.
There are no other contested races.
Ms. Conklin said she and her team of poll workers are preparing for a large turnout.
Noah Asimow contributed reporting.
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