When our families chose to move to Lexington, we did it for the schools. Like so many others, we were drawn here by a community that clearly values education — a place where children are given the opportunities, support and resources to thrive.
But as we learn more about Lexington High School (LHS) and hear students talk about the overcrowded classrooms, the aging infrastructure and the daily challenges our students and educators face, we have found ourselves asking: Is this the best we can offer them?
LHS is almost 70 years old. It was built for a different era — for 1,800 students — yet now over 2,400 young people try to learn in a space that is literally bursting at the seams. The HVAC systems are failing. The spaces are cramped and uninspiring. And the building no longer reflects the kind of future-ready, inclusive and safe learning environment that Lexington is known for.
We can’t keep putting band-aids on a building that was never meant to carry this load. Renovating it to basic standards would cost over $311 million and still leave us with serious limitations. For $543 million — supported by the Massachusetts School Building Authority and other funds — we can build something transformational: a new school that honors our values, supports our students, and prepares them for the future.
This is a significant opportunity that we cannot afford to lose.
Lexington has a long tradition of doing what’s right, even when it’s hard. We’ve always stood up for our children, for our values, and for our future. Let’s rise to that standard again.
Vote YES on Dec. 8. Let’s build the high school our students — and our town — truly deserve.
Sincerely,
Riddhi Shah and Nicole Narang
Harrington Elementary School PTA co-presidents