The following opinion was written by Olivia Munson, a senior at Arlington High School. It is published with her permission.

Since our presentation at the selectmen meeting on Feb. 1, there has been much discussion in various sources regarding the event. For us students, it’s an education in itself to see how simply voicing one’s concerns can be interpreted and can resonate in a town. This letter is an attempt to clarify the organization behind the presentation, and the intentions of the students who participated.

During the last few weeks, Arlington High School students have been increasingly informed about the prospective changes for FY11. To our understanding, roughly 20% of our teachers will be laid off, minimum class sizes will be around 36 students, arts and sports programs will face dramatic decreases in funding, most electives will be cut, the tracking system will be lessened with only two class levels instead of the current four, most advanced-placement classes (which provide an opportunity for students to study a subject at a college level) will be eliminated, and our schedule will consist of four 90-minute-periods a day.

These changes will largely undermine what makes the Arlington Public Schools such a successful school district. My friend Molly Lobel and I, both seniors, decided to take some sort of action because, quite frankly, the proposed changes are terrifying.

First, we informed ourselves — how could we address change without a more thorough understanding of the problem?

We initiated meetings with our principal Charlie Skidmore, with Selectman Annie LaCourt, and with state Representative Sean Garballey. All of these officials graciously agreed to come to the high school and speak with a body of students.

Through these discussions, we gathered a more complete understanding of the causes of the budget deficit, and why the schools are inevitably going to suffer. We learned the specifics of what the Arlington Public Schools would face next year. And, from Annie LaCourt, we learned about the proper procedure for getting involved in town politics and about the possibility of an override.

Mrs. LaCourt explained to us why an override was extremely unlikely, and why the selectmen are hesitant of placing one on the ballot. Despite her pessimism on its potential, we students decided that this possibility was the only one on which we had any power to act.

We requested to be put on the selectmen's agenda for Feb. 1 in order to raise the option of an override and to emphasize its dire need. Prior to the meetings, the selectmen always receive a packet, with supplemental information regarding the agenda. In our section of this packet, we wrote a cover letter outlining our concerns and included approximately 200 statements written by students detailing how they felt that the changes proposed for FY11 would affect the quality of their education.

Collecting these statements was a moving experience. As Molly and I are two of the co-presidents of the Young Democrats club, most of our organization stemmed from there.

However, we made sure to keep this effort bipartisan. We reached out to many clubs, as varied as the Teenage Republicans and the Literary Magazine. We used tools such as facebook to explain to students what the current projections were at the time, and to ask them to submit a paragraph.

A few teachers offered us class time to discuss with the students the deficit and its impact, and we even asked some students to write paragraphs in class, if they were so willing. These paragraphs written during school hours were completely optional, and an important education in demonstrating civic involvement.

The response we received from nearly all students was passionate. They made it clear that they were willing to help us with this presentation, and to shape their own education, with moving immediacy. Even after the deadline for the packet on January 28th, we continued to receive written statements, raising the tally of paragraphs to around 230.

This high level of involvement is evident in the way that so many students gathered at Town Hall on Feb. 1. It is estimated that 150 students went to the meeting, and many more wrote me apologetic emails saying that they were unable to attend the meeting but were most definitely supportive of our cause. We flooded the meeting room, with many students crowding the hallways. The students came because of their own initiative, and out of their own concern for their school. It was truly a beautiful scene.

Although our presentation seems to have been successful, there is still work to be done toward our ultimate goal of passing an override. An override will be difficult to pass, of course. I understand that the residents of Arlington are already struggling with property taxes. A tax increase, no matter how slight, might seem utterly unreasonable, especially to those who do not have children and are not directly affected by the school system.

However, every resident of Arlington is indeed affected by the quality of our schools. Property values are dependent on the excellence of the Arlington Public Schools, and so even those who do not have children in the district will be impacted by a diminished school district. These ties also affect future revenue, which will in turn cause problems for our town services such as public safety.

I am a senior in high school, I have been accepted into college, and my immediate future beyond the Arlington Public Schools seems secure. I am writing this letter today as a citizen of Arlington, to not only benefit my younger classmates but to benefit our town. Do not think of an override as some sort of charitable donation. We are all dependent on the passing of an override.

 Furthermore, even if it was indeed only the future of the students at risk here, that should be enough reason to take action. These students will become the citizens of Arlington and of the United States, and it is critical that they are as educated as reasonably possible. There will be tough decisions to be made in the years to come, and I desperately hope that we will be prepared to make them.

 The lasting impression that I received from the recent Selectmen meeting was uplifting. Active citizens are what democracy is all about, and the students who attended the meeting really proved that the future has incredible potential. However, we need to shape this potential with the best education that students can receive. Passing an override is critical.