Support for Additional Funding for Lexington Public Schools

We are writing in support of the proposed additional funding for Lexington Public Schools through the McKenna proposal put forward to Town Meeting on March 3, 2026, as it helps mitigate the most immediate and drastic staff/program cuts. Our schools are the heart of our town and the single greatest investment we make in our collective future. The Lexington Public School system is a consistent driver of why Lexington remains one of the most desirable towns in the Commonwealth. We are nationally recognized not just for high-quality education, but more importantly, for the prepared young adults who graduate from LPS due to the dedication and standards that we, as educators and administrators, commit to on behalf of the children of Lexington.

We fully understand and respect the need to be fiscally responsible in what are unpredictable economic times, but we believe the additional funding for the upcoming school year will provide for a more orderly and better planned transition to the fiscal realities that we will continue to face, many of which are beyond our control. This amendment is not enough to fully solve our budget crisis, or settle the open contracts, but it is a solid step forward and will make a significant impact to affected educators and their families.

Constructive Dialogue

While we may differ on the specifics of the budget, the way we disagree matters just as much as the outcome. Lately, there has been a rise in divisive tactics, specifically the circulation of petitions that often lack context or might misrepresent the facts. While we respect the right to petition, the question needs to be asked if these efforts are helping us reach a solution or simply deepening the divide.

We as union leaders retain confidence in our ability to work with the superintendent and School Committee to work towards a fiscally responsible outcome but more importantly a solution that will continue to support our educators and the students that we serve in Lexington Public Schools.

Robin Strizhak, President, Lexington Education Association (LEA)

Eamonn Sheehan, President, Association of Lexington Administrators( ALA)

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