We are immensely proud to be LPS educators, and appreciate the community’s support. Recently, Dr. Hackett and the LSC vigorously advocated for more funding, which the Select Board denied. To be clear, the increase advocated for was not a luxurious cushion, but rather only enough to meet student needs.

Students are different now. To the observer, school may look the same, however, more student behaviors need support, attention spans are shorter, and many students struggle to find agency in a world that is louder and meaner. Students are not to blame. As adults, we must evolve to meet them where they are and give them what they need. In order to do that we need funding beyond the minimum. 

As public educators, none of us went into this field to be rich. In recent years, as prices have spiraled and our wages have not kept up. Some LPS educators are unhoused. Many are SNAP eligible. Many don’t go to a doctor because they cannot afford the co-pay.   Others have multiple jobs. And, whereas we are adults and are responsible for ourselves, the impact of these hardships inadvertently comes into classrooms and affects kids. Kids deserve to have educators who are able to fully focus on them and not also worry about how they will pay rent or what they will say if they run into a student doing community service at the local food bank. Educators deserve to have dignity. To focus on parades, sidewalks, and impressive school buildings while your educators and kids are struggling is harmful and demoralizing.

We do not yet know what cuts will be, but it may mean larger classes and less individualized attention because there are simply too many students to do otherwise.  Some programs may be shuttered. Cuts may mean that some of our students, ALL of whom have a right to a Free and Appropriate Public Education, may no longer be able to get what they need.  

What constitutes an emergency? We are in crisis now—not in 3-5 years–now. If you haven’t noticed anything out of the ordinary, that’s because your children’s teachers make themselves sick to maintain the optics of the status quo. Using one time funds for ongoing expenses is not sustainable. However, desperate times call for desperate measures. Your bond rating is excellent, but it shouldn’t be on the backs of some of the town’s lowest paid employees.

Sincerely,

Robin Strizhak, President of the Lexington Education Association

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