Harvard is a town where a decision can be made by the School Committee on a Saturday, sent via e-mail on Sunday, and received by most residents immediately. That was the case in the recent decision on cutting costs to lower the heat in our schools from 67 to 64 degrees, a desperate attempt to save maybe $20,000 of a $250,000 budget reduction by the end of winter. Superintendent Tom Jefferson has stated this will be enforced immediately. The decision was made without any consideration of Massachusetts State Law Guidelines (chapter 4, page 6 of the comprehensive school health manual), which require that adequate heating be maintained in schools from Oct. 15 to May 15, and define those temperatures as being between 66 and 68 degrees.
The town of Harvard has chosen to cut the heat for our youngsters in school, but I question if our town officials are cold too? Are our town offices 64 degrees? Does Harvard have the right to make its own laws? Are we so sheltered from the rest of the world that we feel we deserve our independence? Who will review decisions made by our town when officials fail to do so? Why do our children have to suffer from poor budgeting, and why am I the only one concerned enough to speak out?
Nicole Palmer
Craggs Road
