As someone who has spent years advocating for students—especially those who struggle to be seen and supported—I understand the stakes of this decision. I also understand what it feels like for families to face rising costs. This year alone, our insurance premiums increased by more than $1,000 per month. Having sent my youngest through LHS, I speak not for personal benefit, but for the kind of town we want to leave for future generations.

Many residents have asked: Can’t we find a cheaper way? Couldn’t we renovate in stages? These are fair questions. But the facts are clear: there is no less expensive option—only more costly and less effective ones. The School Building Committee spent two and a half years evaluating every reasonable alternative. Renovating the current 72-year-old building would cost $400–$500 million just to keep outdated systems running. The required code and safety upgrades alone total $311 million. And because the school was built for 1,800 students but now serves 2,400, we would still need a major addition—pushing the total cost well beyond $500 million.

Doing the work “in stages” could mean a decade of construction disruption, annual cost increases of roughly $22 million from inflation, and the loss of $121.3 million in MSBA state funding, as well as an additional $127 million in Mass Save and LBBB savings. The result would be a patchwork “Frankenschool” that costs more and serves students less effectively.

By contrast, the Bloom plan is carefully designed to balance ambition with fiscal responsibility. It is not a luxury project, but neither is it penny-wise and pound-foolish. Bloom delivers a flexible, inclusive, forward-looking campus built to last the next seventy-five years. It provides collaboration spaces, STEM labs, and critical therapeutic supports—services our most vulnerable students cannot currently access.

Even if your children have graduated—or never attended—this vote matters. Lexington’s commitment to education sustains property values, strengthens our community, and ensures that the next generation has the resources they need to thrive.

For our students, for families navigating real financial pressures, and for Lexington’s future, the responsible choice is clear: Yes.

Monami Roy, parent, advocate, and 26-year Lexington resident Sent from my iPhone

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