After a failed vote to give Whittier Tech a new building, the Healey administration is proposing a brand new solution to give school the space and resources it needs — potentially moving it in with the local community college down the road.

“Our administration knows that a new, modern facility is needed for Whittier Tech, but we also understand the communities’ concerns about cost,” said Gov. Maura Healey in a release Thursday. “This potential collaboration between Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School and Northern Essex Community College aims to meet the needs of our students and communities in an efficient, affordable and innovative way.”

The Healey-Driscoll administration laid out the “shared campus proposal” broadly Thursday, stating their intent to begin to engage with local officials and the schools’ communities on the plans in coming weeks. The model would bring Whittier Tech together with the Haverhill campus of Northern Essex Community College (NECC), which is just a couple miles away.

The shared campus model, the administration said, would “explore ways to create a new, modern facility for Whittier Tech, allow for expanded access to postsecondary education across northeastern Massachusetts, and increase enrollment capacity at both institutions and make them more affordable,” the release laid out.

The proposal comes just over two months after voters rejected a costly referendum to fund building a new campus for the high school for about $444.6 million.

The plan is “blazing a new and inventive trail for students of Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School,” said Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Chair Katherine Craven, with the potential to introduce students to the benefits of postsecondary education in addition to delivering a better facility.

The proposal is an unusual and “innovative” one, state and local officials said in their comments.

“This proposal has national implications because of its creative sharing of joint facilities, the elimination of unnecessary educational silos, making the best use of limited taxpayer construction dollars and maximizing learning opportunities for our vocational students, who are the future problem solvers and creative thinkers of Massachusetts,” said Craven.

The release included wide-ranging support from state representative, mayor and town administrators, and business leaders.

Related Articles

Building contractor to meet with district officials at Boston school that smells like ‘poop’

Healey holds firm on MCAS and evidence-based reading, despite pushback

Boston school plagued by overpowering ‘sewage smell’

Boston School Committee approves $1.5B BPS budget proposal

‘Woefully inadequate:’ Watchdog organization calls for broad changes to BPS budget process

State officials said they’ll collaborate with both NECC and Whittier Tech to foster discussion and feedback on potential plans for the shared campus. The officials also stated they plan to work with communities in Amesbury, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Ipswich, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury, and West Newbury.

The program could build off of the schools’ “similar missions” and prior collaboration with Early College and adult vocational programs, school officials said.

“With better paying jobs requiring some kind of postsecondary education and training, exploring an innovative shared campus model has tremendous potential for students, families, communities, and the regional workforce needs of the Merrimack Valley,” said Lane Glenn, NECC President.