I have been conflicted over the proposed middle school plan. I had been involved in several years of planning for a potentially new middle school. This isn’t the school plan I liked or voted for during the planning stages. I have many reservations about this plan, but, I do intend to vote yes, because: 1 –We are in dire need for a safe learning environment for our middle schoolers and their teachers. 2 – Renovating Gates is a horrendous idea. Spending $45 million on that dangerous, unhealthy, accident-waiting to-happen dinosaur is beyond stupid and will never truly be safe or easily accessible for any person with any type of mobility issue. I challenge anyone to use crutches/ or wheelchair to get to the gym (2nd floor, no elevator or lift, with a wood ceiling and no sprinklers with 2 rusting out fire escapes) and then to the cafeteria and then to a language classroom (what, that is 9 level changes?!!!) I could go on almost endlessly with all the flaws. 3 – This plan was developed mostly with educators. If anyone knows what is, and will be, critical to education, it is the professional educators. I defer. 4 – I have been very involved in this process – I have researched, attended meetings, and spoken out. A plan was developed. My vote didn’t win, but sometimes that happens. That is how democracy works. I will support the project because I believe Scituate needs a new middle school and this is the one that was decided upon, after years of research, planning, and public meetings. 5 – Our 6th graders will have a better education. They will have more instructional time, every day. 6th graders can not attend school in the current Gates building because it is too small. The new middle school will also save taxpayer money in the near future, when the temporary classrooms added at Cushing and Hatherly schools can be removed instead of replaced. A “no” vote does NOT mean that Scituate will have a different school building plan brought forward; that is not how the MSBA process works. A “no” vote will mean that the Gates school will be renovated for an estimated cost of $45 million. I expect the cost to be higher once the builders get into the project, after reading the reports and knowing that every reconstruction project I have ever heard of has ended up costing more than the estimate. The town can not delay repairs any longer. If you think that the new middle school will be expensive and possibly disruptive, a renovation will be so more so, and leave the town with far less to show for it. I urge you to join me in voting “yes” for a new SMS. Thank you for your consideration.
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 20:33:05 +0000
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