Why School Infrastructure Must Be the 2025 Election Priority

As Braintree approaches its 2025 election, one issue stands out as both urgent and enduring: education infrastructure. This topic has shaped the political landscape in previous election cycles—2019 and 2023—and it will likely remain central in 2025. The question is no longer whether schools need attention, but whether our leaders are willing to commit to a comprehensive, funded, and forward-looking plan.

📚 A Brief & Recent History of the School Building Debate

• 2018: The town faced two roof failures and a boiler breakdown at the high school, exposing serious infrastructure vulnerabilities.
• 2019 Election: All three candidates pledged to deliver a town-wide school building plan in response to growing public concern.
• Mayor Kokoros was elected but never released a formal plan, despite stating he had worked on one.
• 2021 High School Failure to Open: The school failed to open at the start of school because of a flood in an electrical room.
• 2023 Election: Both candidates again promised to prioritize school infrastructure. Mayor Joyce ran on four key issues, with education and finance at the forefront. She committed to a building plan that would address all schools.

Yet here we are in 2025, and the current proposal focuses solely on the six elementary schools. That’s not a comprehensive solution—it’s a partial fix that leaves middle and high school facilities out of the conversation. After seven years of promises, the community is still waiting for a full-scale strategy.

⚠️ Why Piecemeal Planning Falls Short
A narrow focus on elementary school’s risks creating long-term inefficiencies and inequities. Without a town-wide plan, we’re not solving the problem, we’re deferring it. And without a clear revenue strategy, even the best plan remains theoretical. Infrastructure requires funding, and funding requires political will.

What’s missing is a modern asset management system—one that tracks every piece of equipment and facility data across all schools. With such a system, we could update our planning monthly, rather than relying on outdated assessments. The last comprehensive review was in 2013/2014—over a decade ago.

Consider the State Convention Center in Boston. They maintain detailed records on all buildings and equipment, including maintenance costs and replacement timelines. This data-driven approach allows them to make informed decisions about repairs, renovations, and rebuilds. It’s a model Braintree should emulate.

💰 The Revenue Question
Schools account for roughly 50% of the town’s budget, yet we continue to under-invest in their physical upkeep. The real issue isn’t just planning—it’s the lack of willingness to raise revenue to pay for maintenance and rebuilding. Until we address that, every plan will be constrained by financial limitations.

🗳️ What Should Voters Require in 2025?

• A comprehensive school building plan that includes all schools, not just elementary.
• A transparent funding strategy, including options for revenue generation.
• A modern infrastructure tracking system to guide ongoing planning and maintenance.
• A commitment to long-term investment, not short-term fixes.

Education is not just a line item—it’s the foundation of our community’s future. The 2025 election should be a referendum on whether Braintree is ready to invest in that future.