As the only selectman who did not vote to replace our 29-year-old main elementary school building with a new school, I would like to describe why.
I would prefer to see a less costly renovation be developed. It would push fewer people out of town and have less impact on the town’s future ability to fund other things, including the more important part of education, our teachers.
The estimated 16 percent tax increase from the new school would move our taxes per house up to the 15th highest in the state. Other towns in that neighborhood have much more expensive homes to shoulder it.
It may be hard to imagine how higher taxes might affect our teachers, but Sudbury provides a disturbing example of what can happen to a town with an excellent school system when taxpayer fatigue sets in. A few years ago they made their teachers pay much more for their benefits than Harvard does, and just this spring Sudbury chose not to meet the school’s funding request. Instead there is a big layoff in each of their schools.
A brand-new school in Harvard would be nice to have, but if it puts us on a path where supporting teachers may suffer, is it really the best thing to do for our schools?
Ken Swanton
Fairbank Street
