Op-Ed From Meredith Boericke: Vote Yes for Braintree on Sept. 26

Braintree MA

14 September, 2020

3:51 PM

Description

BRAINTREE, MA — The following letter to the editor comes from Town Councilor Meredith Boericke. Boericke wrote the op-ed as a private citizen, and the views below are hers and not representative of the Braintree Town Council. The last six months have illuminated that our well-worn and well-loved school buildings urgently need upgrading to accommodate modern ventilation, wireless connections, and educational best-practices. And although my children will not attend new schools, yours should. As a parent, I know the classroom instruction in Braintree is second-to-none, but children and teachers deserve sound buildings, comfortable classrooms, and space for books on shelves. They deserve new science labs and well ventilated classrooms. And we can make this happen! An opportunity lies before us: by voting Yes on September 26th, we can demonstrate our community's commitment to education, to each other, and to our future. Commitment to community has always been the heartbeat of Braintree. More than a hundred years ago, a similar question faced the Town. In 1911, the residents were asked to fund a new school. The $65,000 cost included a proposed brick building and three acres of land on which to build it. That school is Hollis elementary and it has educated more than five generations of Braintree children in its century of service to this town. It is now time for us to make a similar investment not only for our own children, but for the children to come. When Braintree's 1911 voters invested in a new brick building, they were investing in a civic monument and to demonstrate their commitment to the future of Braintree. Now we have the chance to do the same. Voting YES on all four ballot questions on September 26th will help lead the way to so much beneficial change for our school system. By voting YES, you will help alleviate the space crunch at the elementary schools, freeing up more than 20 classrooms, and create "flex space" at old South to provide future educational opportunities and service expansion. Your YES vote will help ensure that Middle School students across the entire town will have an equitable educational experience. A YES vote will secure more than $30 million of State funding, which represents nearly 40% of the construction costs for South. Voting YES will also ensure roof replacements at six elementary schools in dire need, provide funding for security assessments and upgrades across the entire district, and finally, a YES vote will begin the process of reimagining Braintree High School. As a parent and a resident, I know this Town cares deeply about public education. It's a commitment that stretches back more than a century. And this commitment to education extends far beyond any one child or one building because it is a commitment to our future and a reflection of our values. Please join me on September 26th to vote YES for Braintree.