Dear Editor and Wilmington Community,
Our town is approaching a pivotal vote that marks the culmination of more than four years of dedicated work and strategic planning. Our current elementary schools are outdated and inadequate for modern educational needs, making this project a significant opportunity to address three schools simultaneously. The work on this new school project has been ongoing, involving numerous town departments and volunteer committees, and 60+ public meetings and forums.
On September 13th and 16th, I encourage you to vote yes to move this project forward; failure to do so will lead to higher costs and lengthy delays. If we do not take advantage of this opportunity, we will be paying a lot more to renovate 60-year-old schools or build new schools using town money, likely without MSBA funding. If either vote fails, and we want to utilize MSBA funding, we will have to re-enter the highly-selective MSBA pool again, hope to get chosen, and regardless of what the project is, it could be delayed 5-10+ years, and the West side schools even longer – these buildings cannot afford this delay.
It is important to note that renovating via the MSBA would be for one school only, not multiple schools. If we vote no and instead choose to repair/renovate some or all of the schools, they would need extensive work to bring them up to today’s needs. Additionally, without MSBA funding, the majority or all of the cost would fall on the town’s taxpayers, which would match or exceed the town’s share for this proposed project and still raise taxes.
We also need to consider the logistics of repairs and renovations. Schools would have to be done one at a time. Students would be displaced, and we would likely need to put them in modular classrooms, which are costly and often lack the comfort and infrastructure of permanent buildings. Alternatively, relocating students to other town facilities would require significant retrofitting to meet educational standards. These interim solutions aren’t just inconvenient—they’re expensive. Making other buildings, including a former school, “move-in ready” demands upgrades in safety, accessibility, and technology, all of which add to the budget without contributing to long-term improvements.
Constant movement and uncertainty can have a negative impact on students’ academic performance and emotional well-being. Teachers and staff also face increased stress adapting to temporary setups, which can affect morale and retention.
Staggered renovations mean some schools may wait years before seeing any improvements, while spending more money and wasting more time.
The Town Manager has proposed a fiscally responsible 30-year plan that includes a future PreK-5 elementary school on the West side of town without increasing taxes. Voting yes at Special Town Meeting and at the polls addresses the North side schools now and sets the stage for addressing the West side schools within the next decade. We cannot continue to kick this project down the road; our community has waited long enough for this opportunity, and we have the most fiscally sound plan in place.
Please attend the Special Town Meeting at Wilmington High School on September 13th at 9 am and vote YES for this project (we need a ⅔ majority) and also vote YES at your polling location on Tuesday, September 16th. Early voting is also available from September 2nd to 12th. Remember – both votes need to pass to make this project a reality! Let’s ensure that Wilmington’s educational facilities are supportive of our children and the future of Wilmington. A few hours of your time will make a positive difference for generations to come. The time is now.
Respectfully submitted,
Lilia Maselli
Resident & Member of the Wilmington Select Board
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