The Hildreth Elementary School building project has caught the attention of Harvard residents, and they have expressed their opinions in ways ranging from the traditional to the most contemporary—the spoken word, letters, an online survey, and comments online at Nextdoor Harvard.
Online poll shows strong support for new building
Nearly 800 residents had responded to an online survey about the building project by Tuesday this week. At the selectmen’s meeting that night, Superintendent Linda Dwight reported that respondents favored a new building over a renovation by nearly 2-to-1.
Jason Cole presents selectmen with 40 signatures in support of a new school. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)
An analysis of earlier survey results at a June 1 School Building Committee meeting provided more detail. Support for a new building was strongest among responders under the age of 50 and weakest among those over 65, although each option had some supporters in all age groups. Among those under 50, a new building led 3-to-1 over a renovation. Those over 50 were about evenly split between the two options.
Selectmen hear divergent views
At Tuesday’s well-attended selectmen’s meeting, one speaker after another came to the microphone to opine on the HES question. Supporters of a new school dominated the public discussion through sheer numbers, but opponents were also able to make their case.
Suzanne Allen speaks on behalf of the Harvard Family Association. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)
Mark Buell expresses concern over only two options.
Sue Guswa speaks on behalf of the Council on Aging.
Speaking for the Council on Aging board, which had met that afternoon, Sue Guswa of Old Meadow Lane said the COA supports school projects. But she reminded the board that seniors are 26 percent of the town’s population and that tax increases would affect them significantly.
Mark Buell of Littleton County Road expressed opposition to both options proposed by the building committee. He said he supported neither the substantial renovation plan nor new construction. “I’m furious,” he said, “because I don’t believe that the building committee has done what they were supposed to do and brought forth a financially responsible option for the town.” He said he wanted the committee to present a less costly renovation plan.
Littleton Road resident Suzanne Allen then presented the selectmen with a letter signed by 84 members of the Harvard Family Association. (She had earlier presented the letter to the building committee.) The signers expressed concern that “continuing to flip flop back and forth between a school that is half old and half new” would perpetuate the problems of the current building rather than solving them. “Given the cost associated with even the minimum investment to HES…,” the letter concluded, “we feel strongly that investing in a new elementary school is good for the whole town and urge you to vote to move forward with a full rebuild.”
Another parent, Jason Cole of Warren Avenue, had gathered about 40 signatures for another letter of support for new construction. He pointed out that there was almost no overlap between the signers of his letter and those of the Harvard Family Association letter.
In all, about a dozen residents—many of whom identified themselves as parents who had moved here for the sake of the schools—spoke in favor of a new school. Most argued that new construction offered a better value for the money, while creating less disruption to the ongoing work of education. Several acknowledged that they would find the tax increase burdensome but said they were willing to bear it for the sake of a better school. Many also objected to the estimated $5 million cost of modular units needed to house students during a renovation, but not during new construction.
School Committee Chairwoman Mary Traphagen addresses the selectmen and residents at the June 6 Board of Selectmen meeting.
Nate Finch of Codman Hill Road pointed out that although some people were talking about finding a third option, the building committee was scheduled to vote Thursday between the two options presented in the most recent survey. “And the difference between those two options is this,” he said, pulling a $20 bill from his pocket. He then explained that new construction was estimated to cost about $20 a month more in taxes than the proposed renovation.
A busy week on Nextdoor
Meanwhile, discussions of the school project on Nextdoor skyrocketed around the beginning of this month. While some of those who posted comments had also attended public meetings and forums, many were new voices.
A post last week by Robin Foley sparked 48 replies and received 41 thanks before she ended the thread, although many were exchanges among several regular posters. Foley’s original post focused on financing. She pointed out that Harvard’s current AAA bond rating is higher than that of the nation as a whole, and she challenged the idea that a downgrade to AA+ would hinder the town’s ability to borrow in the future. About 20 individuals responded to her post with wide-ranging ideas about finance, the quality of modern buildings, and a suggestion to look for completely new solutions such as turning the old library into a kindergarten.
More recently, a post Monday by Janice Daley of Brown Road, who supports a new school building, drew 91 replies (from more than 30 individuals) and 81 thanks as of Wednesday morning. (Some examples of the range of opinions appear below).
In addition to her lengthy post on Nextdoor, Daley attended a number of School Building Committee meetings. At the June 1 meeting, she made clear that she rejected the idea that the school project pitted “seniors against families,” and she promised to support projects to benefit older residents. “We will fight with and for the senior community on their issues,” she said.
Residents voice their
opinions on Nextdoor
“Having been at this school system through more than one renovation project, I can tell you it’s not fun to be a student during that process, and I can’t imagine it is for the faculty/staff either.”
—Eric Ward, Lovers Lane
“We need to use the state funds to the best of our ability, and that means that whichever option they select we need to rally together as a town to not only support it, but also to find ways to make it feasible for all residents.”
—Emma Franzeim, Eldridge Road
“This kind of tax hike will drive seniors and lower income families out of town. …Whatever is decided, a good dose of New England practicality wouldn’t hurt.”
—Margaret Hood, Old Mill Road
“I believe a new, modern structure is better for the kids, better for the teachers, and better for our town.”
—Ken Murphy, South Shaker Road
“My theory has always been that a great teacher holding class under a tree is better than all the expensive facilities and educational theories in the world.”
—Bonnie Chandler, Prospect Hill Road
“[W]e have always voted for any town warrant article favoring the schools, even after our youngest son graduated 15 years ago. We do not intend to do differently this time. People well educated by our public school system are the lifeblood of our country. …[But] without some sort of reasonable tax abatement program for senior citizens (and it does not have to happen tomorrow), many will decide that the Harvard they have grown to love and care for is no longer viable financially.”
—Ben Myers, Westcott Road
—Compiled by Marty Green
