Building a new high school is a hard task. If it were easier, we might have done it 20 years ago. We knew then that the high school was overcrowded, had spaces not conducive to current educational techniques, and mechanical systems that were ready to be replaced. At the same time, though, we had a number of elementary schools and our two middle schools that needed attention. We built and renovated these, funded by borrowing authorized by debt exclusion votes, as municipal expenditures of this magnitude require.
It was during one of those campaigns that I remember having a heated discussion while holding a “Yes” sign on the corner of Mass. Ave. and Waltham St., with a woman who was substantially younger than I am now. She wanted to know why the project was so expensive, why the layout was so extravagant and why we had to build new when it seemed that it would be cheaper to remodel. I gave her my best arguments through several traffic light changes, but was making little headway. (I still regret not having a chance to tell her about Lexington’s portfolio of Property Tax Relief Programs!) Finally, the light changed again. She started to cross the street and shouted back to me, “You know that I’m going to vote for the project. Investments in education grow property values and I’ll need to sell my house to retire.”
There are many good reasons for Lexington residents to vote Yes on Dec. 8 so that we can build a new high school. Some, like the woman I spoke with years ago, are persuaded by that fact that investments in our schools directly shore up their property values. Others see benefits for their own children. Others believe that investing in our public schools is for the common good.
The truth of our current situation is that our high school infrastructure is failing, and we will have to spend money on it one way or another. Through an open and transparent process, community officials, staff and volunteers, in consultation with professionals, have developed an excellent project that meets Massachusetts educational standards and qualifies for about $121 million in state funding. It’s the best value for our tax dollars. Please join me in voting Yes on Dec. 8, or vote early by mail by applying for a mail-in ballot.
Jeanne Krieger, former Lexington Selectman (1998-2010)
Yep. We need a new high school. However, on this particular project plan at this particular price, I am respectfully voting no. Our town should have done a better job maintaining failing infrastructure over the years. I know there are many other residents passionate and concerned about this project so I urge them to make their voices known and vote on Dec. 8th
Jeanne:
I see no reason to vote YES on December 8, but offer 3 clear reasons to vote NO on Bloom because it is not the new High School Lexington needs.
(1) Per the SBC’s own chart https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u2umuhbcHG43JgRG0Y19BM1lPVDyW2en/view?usp=sharing, Bloom costs $1,293 per square foot, or 25% MORE than the new Belmont High School.
(2) Sized for today’s LHS enrollment, Bloom is too small since Lexington’s population may increase by 48% in just 10 years due to 5,750 new MBTA dwellings.
(3) And the SBC never considered the on-campus, box-based, phased design recommended by the Schools’ own 2015 Master Plan.
For all these reasons, I will vote NO on December 8, to get the SBC to finally design and cost-estimate that more reasonable design, which can be funded by the MSBA.
You’ve perfectly captured why this decision, while difficult, is absolutely necessary. I especially appreciate your point about the transparent process that has brought us to this moment. Community officials, staff, volunteers, and professionals have worked diligently to develop a project that meets educational standards while maximizing value for taxpayers.
The reality you highlight bears repeating: we WILL spend money on our high school infrastructure one way or another. A no vote on December 8 means we say no thanks to $121 million in state funding. We would then face an impossible choice: either pay 100% of costs for a future project ourselves, or endure a likely many year delay while restarting the entire MSBA process from scratch. This will result in similar tax increases with less value in return.
Our students and Lexington taxpayers deserve better than “repairs-only” and, maybe one day, a cost-inflated addition. I will be voting Yes on Dec 8th.