Dear Editor,
I write you today in support of a “YES” vote at Saturday’s Special Town Meeting.
Having thought long and hard, and reviewing the options, facts and figures as presented by the Wildwood School Building Committee, it is evident that not doing this project now will cost the Town much more into the future. The errors of the past need to be properly put into context so that we have the foresight to holistically act now. While I can understand the comments about not properly investing in our schools prior to this new build, I would retort with saying that our Public Building Department has done a great job with what we, the voting citizenry of Wilmington, provided them. We built SEVEN schools in the 1950’s and 1960’s (appx.). Since that time, we have built TWO schools and have had ZERO meaningful “updates” to any others. We need to holistically act now and move Wilmington forward in the most fiscally prudent manner possible – we need to vote YES on this project.
I am greatly saddened by the weaponizing of the “seniors vs. kids” argument. We should always consider our seniors and view them as the stewards that have supported our Town longer than many of us with school aged children. However, our seniors will likely be impacted more by multiple builds/improvements and losing out on the state funding for this project. There are avenues for tax abatement/exemption/deferrals for seniors, but with the increasing cost of living in the greater Boston area, we really need to be looking to our state government to examine the income qualifications and limits for its statutory programs and perhaps finding other avenues to let seniors age in their homes. So, while I am cognizant of the fiscal burden some might see as an issue, there has not been any alternative presented during the pendency of this project review, which is years in the making, that will adequately address the needs of our schools and lower the tax burden associated therewith.
The facts are out there for all to review. I won’t rehash those, but I would implore all residents to take a moment to look over the information the Wildwood School Building Committee put forth relative to the proposed build in comparison with the other alternatives.
Investing in our schools should not become such a divisive topic. We need to properly and adequately invest in our schools, and with the MSBA funding this project has been allocated this is the right option at a necessary juncture.
Respectfully Submitted,
Rob Peterson
Wilmington Apple 