Greg Christiana and Moriah Tyrrell have submitted the following appeal:
As cochairs of the Build Arlington’s Future campaign, we ask that you join us in voting yes on all three questions on June 14.
The three questions, put on the ballot unanimously by the Board of Selectmen, address school buildings at every level of our town’s public school system. Voting yes is vital to Arlington’s ability to continue to provide the kind of quality education we value and depend on.
After months of School Enrollment Task Force meetings, School Committee meetings, public forums and long-term planning for our schools, our town leaders have done their part in planning for the future, and now it’s our turn. As parents, citizens and voters, it is time for us to do our part to make these plans a reality. The next step of this journey is in our hands.
Vote yes on question 1 on June 14, because if the question fails, the Thompson Elementary and Ottoson Middle schools will continue to be overcrowded, while the town spends money on temporary and expensive modular classrooms.
Vote yes on question 2 on June 14, because if the question fails, our high school will not have the funds needed to complete the very first step in the rebuild process with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), jeopardizing state funding for the project and stalling progress.
Vote yes on question 3 on June 14, because if the question fails, our state-mandated vocational school offering will not have the money it needs to rebuild the school in partnership with the MSBA. Many Arlington students benefit from the services the Minuteman school provides and it’s an important option for our high school students and an important part of our public school system.
Many of us understand that this debt exclusion vote is important, and that it’s the final step needed to make these plans a reality, but there are many others in town who are unaware that the vote is taking place, and unaware of the consequences our students will face if the vote does not pass.
Our campaign to spread the word is in full swing, and we want to thank the 200 people who have donated so we have the funds for literature, signs and other materials that are needed to get the word out.
We want to thank the more than 400 people who have already signed up to volunteer, and we want to thank our town leaders for getting us to this final stage.
Arlington has a long legacy of generously supporting its public schools and we believe that this campaign is an important part of that tradition. Sharing this message with voters during the next three weeks is critical and everyone has a part to play.
We still need many more people to help spread the word about the vote, and to make sure this debt exclusion passes. Can you help us? Please visit our website, sign up to vote yes, and get involved today!
Thank you for your continued support and for joining us in voting yes on June 14.
This appeal was published Wednesday, May 25, 2016.
