The Background:

Wareham's Town Meeting has taken two affirmative votes regarding reuse of the former John W. Decas Elementary School for a community center. At Wareham's most recent April 25, 2022 Town Meeting, voters approved

1) issuing public Requests for Proposals for organizations who wish to rent space for community programs in a community center, 2) moving the Council on Aging to Decas, and 3) granting access to the building to the Decas School Steering Committee & the Decas Foundation to support and assist. See the motion that was approved by voters here. 

Despite affirmative votes, the Town Administrator has not issued RFPs. Why is this important? Because RFPs allow businesses and non-profits to state to the town that they would like to rent space in Decas. Space rental is the funding model which would allow a community center to be self-supporting. RFPs will establish that the funding model is viable and allow potential renters to find out details and make plans for their businesses.

Do you care about a community center in Wareham and think the highest and best use of the former school building is to continue serving the community through education, programming, recreation and services for all ages? Your signature will help establish the overwhelming citizen support for this proposed community use of Decas to benefit Wareham's citizens now and for years to come.

See the most recent proposed layout for the community center here. This design was put together by the Decas School Steering Committee in consultation with Jones Payne Group, the architectural firm charged with assessing Decas for community use.

More info at decasforwareham.com and decasccf.org