Last call on school funding debate
Published on February 20th, 2002
STONEHAM, MA–In week three of The Independent’s print debate over Article 2 of the March 4 Special Town Meeting, three people urge citizens to vote no, and three argue for voting yes.
First read the rules below, and then check out the debate that follows...
THE RULES:
All over Stoneham people are talking about the School Department’s Special Town Meeting article, the request to add funds under the debt exclusion to complete the school building project.
A great deal of heat has been generated by the public relations machines of both camps. Citizens want to know what voting yes to fund the project or no will mean to Stoneham and themselves.
In an effort to present both sides of the story we decided to facilitate a print debate. Our goal was to moderate a healthy forum that lays out the facts and thus allows citizens to make informed choices at the March 4 Special Town Meeting.
People submitted signed essays arguing the pros and/or cons of voting yes or no.
This week concludes the print debate. The Independent will summarize and synthesize the debate in our Feb. 27 edition.
HELPFUL INFORMATION
Many people are confused about how much more the town will spend if the article passes. The Finance Board estimates the figure at $819,942 because not all of the requested additional $6 million is reimbursable by the state. See the charts with this article.
VOTE YES:
My husband and I are middle-aged empty nesters who live in the Colonial Park neighborhood. Despite the fact that we do not have children in the Stoneham public schools, we are very concerned with the school building project issue. If we do not vote in favor of appropriating the additional funds needed to complete the elementary schools, property values throughout Stoneham will suffer. Our children will be in over-crowded classrooms in the new elementary schools or remain in the old, out-dated existing buildings. Also, plans for full-time kindergarten would have to be put aside because of a lack of classroom space. Stoneham will not be attractive to prospective homeowners, particularly those with young families.
I realize people are worried about our real estate taxes going up, but $6 million in additional funds will only cost about $7.50 per month, or $90 per year for the average Stoneham homeowner. Editor’s note: This figure could be higher, depending on home size. The truth is taxes are going to go up anyway because of the $39 million we approved in 1997. For a few dollars more a month we can complete the schools, increase our property values, and do the right thing for the children of this town.
In addition, if we fail to complete all four elementary schools as intended, we will forfeit approximately $5 million in state funding. So, in effect, by not voting to appropriate an additional $6 million, we would walk away from $5 million in state reimbursement that is contingent upon the completion of the four-school project. Editor’s note: the town get $5 million more state aid but also spends $820,000.
Another matter is the large parcel of land that the current Colonial Park School occupies. What would the town do with that? Condos? Apartment buildings? New single family homes? As an abutter, I much prefer to see this site remain a school than to consider the alternatives.
Let's not be "penny-wise and dollar-foolish." Property values and quality of life are important to everyone in the Town of Stoneham. If we don't complete the schools, in the end it will cost us all a lot more than a few dollars a month. Sincerely,
Sandra M. Cafasso
Fieldstone Drive
VOTE YES:
I am writing this letter concerning the new school in Colonial park. I am a newer resident to Stoneham, just under two years. The higher rated public schools were one of the major attractions to moving to Stoneham.
Education must be a priority for everyone in the Stoneham community. Most people have been reared in public schools. We have an obligation to give today’s students the same, if not better, quality of education that we, and every generation before us received. Today we compete in a world economy. If today’s students are not given the exposure to the expanding world of computers and information, they will not have the capacity to compete with the future work force from around the world, and we will have only ourselves to answer to.
Instead of looking at the extra $7 to $20 per month in property tax, we as a community should realize that we are schooling the future of medical research, healthcare, engineering, technology and every other possible aspect of progress that touches out lives.
We as a community must not have the attitude, “I don’t have children why should I pay,” or “My children aren’t in school anymore, it’s not my problem.” You can’t just take public education for yourself and your children and not expect to give back the same opportunities to future generations. It is simply un-American.
Scott A. Levine
Stoneham
VOTE YES:
I just read the front page article for the Feb. 6 edition about the need to vote no and can't help but feel that this as an example of why we need better education in this town.
The ability to step back and take a look at the entire picture is of paramount importance here. Something that needs to be learned. We have all read time and again about how various countries in the world graduate better educated children than the United States. That the United States is continuing to fall behind. Here is an opportunity to step up and do something about it by building facilities that promote quality education. Facilities that are built with money that comes directly from Stoneham residents and goes directly to Stoneham schools. Not money that goes to some state general fund and is only partially returned.
Referring to last week’s vote no argument I read that the costs have gone up and the writer recommends that we wait for the costs to come down. Has the cost of construction ever gone down in the past 50 years? What has gone down is long term interest rates which makes it advantageous to press on with this construction in spite of the initial cost increases.
Last week’s writer argues that his taxes have gone up $55 this past year. This is really encroaching on our premium cable channel selection. Perhaps it's time to make a choice. With a quality school system to boost the overall value of the town his property value is sure to increase. Something that is of great interest to those of us that would like to sell our homes at retirement. Can anyone name a town that has let their schools become under funded and substandard and had their property values go up? I recall back in 1996 when Money Magazine rated Stoneham as one of the best “bang for the buck” in overall property value education, quality of life and affordability. This translated into much increased property values as I’m sure any realtor can confirm. Does anyone think the quality of education available did nothing to influence Money Magazine’s choice? Nobody likes parting with their hard earned money, but this is money that will return quality and value to our town and our personal property, not to mention our kids might even get a better quality education.
Barry Birtwistle
Tamarock Terrace
VOTE NO:
Both my wife and I plan to attend Town Meeting and vote against this proposal.
We believe that it is time to stop and take a good look at the current state of the economy. Each new day finds the news full of reports of the dire predictions of tax increases, bankruptcies, business failures and job layoffs. Stories abound of seniors losing the security of their financial futures.
During the past decade, the taxpayers of Stoneham were most generous in their support of the schools. We spent large sums of money, millions, without hesitation to promote the promise of top quality education for our youth.
February of 2002, finds all of us in trying times as we struggle to make ends meet in a state with one of the top five cost of living stats in the country.
I hear the Speaker of the House, Mr. Finneran, and his counterpart in the Senate, Mr. Birmingham, speak of increasing taxes. I read of cut backs in state aid to education, to the MWRA, to Highway funds and the rest of the litany of bad news. I read of the need here in Stoneham for sufficient firemen to respond to our homes. I read of the need for a new firehouse and additional expenses for law enforcement. I read of the need for repairs to town buildings and infrastructure. All these situations are critical at this time and in my opinion are far more important than continuing on with the Big Dig, more schools mentality that seems to have permeated our town.
I think it's time to tell the schools that we are up against some stormy weather as taxpayers here in Stoneham and that they will have to wait for a few rays of sunshine in the future before getting to swallow the whole apple.
When it comes down to a fire truck to respond to my house on fire in the middle of the night or another new school that can wait, I vote on the fire truck without a second thought and hope there are others who feel the same.
William P. Hill
Stoneham
VOTE NO:
Let’s get on the 7–10 year waiting list now for the next wave of state aid for new schools.
Why? There is a war going on and none of us know how long it will last or how it is going to affect us in Stoneham.
Why? Governor Swift announced that she needs $50 million for security. State aid may need to be cut.
Why? I feel the schools are getting too comfortable with having Special Town Meetings for more money.
Why? They will want two Special Town Meetings in the future to raise money to prevent laying off teachers and cutting programs, programs that give every child an opportunity to show their potential for the future. Both will suffer if we spend all of our money on buildings at this crucial time.
Why? Stoneham’s mark of excellence will not be four new buildings. It will and has been the teachers and the curriculum that makes Stoneham shine.
Sincerely,
Edie Previdi
Elmhurst Road
VOTE NO:
I am concerned about the need for a new middle school at $25 million and a fire station at $6 million. Also, Colonial Park school is not needed, it is redundant when you consider the small number of students which will require a principal, custodians, heating, secretary, gymnasium, music room, art room, etc. The extra class rooms should be added to Robin Hood school and the same facilities can be used by the extra Colonial Park students.
The idea of neighborhood schools is a joke, most parents drive their children. By not building Colonial Park school, it frees up land to build a new middle school on the Colonial Park land instead of at the High School or at its current location. I would rather spend my tax dollar supporting educational needs instead of providing a new school in the Colonial Park area for a limited number of students.
Thank You,
Robert Wellman
Stoneham
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