Letter to the Editor: New School is Like a Route Canal

After attending many informational hearings on the New High School/ Middle School it is evident that the anger and frustration has reached a new high.      I liken the school situation to an analogy of  having a  a route canal  thatdentist said the insurance would cover most of. After the tooth was extracted their was  unforeseen gum damage and   an  infection.  Although this dentist had been excellent for years , I was  pretty angry this wasn’t detected earlier  and that the cost will go up $15.00 a month on his payment plan.

I need to give the dentist an answer rather quickly. I can leave the gaping hole in my mouth , risking more decay and cost down the road to fix it, or bite the bullet and allow him to fix it correctly now and avoid the additional pain that I know will follow.

The decision although uncomfortable , will have too much risk in the future if I don’t do it.

Compare this to the issue in front of us now , where the cost of an additional $15.00 per month on the average home , can complete the school as we voted a year ago. It will be a completed  well designed school that will  meet  the needs of a growing community in the 21^st century, much more efficient than the two schools it is replacing.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           To not vote to complete this project correctly now  will leave many more costly results than that route canal. The route canal only affected me personally but your vote affects the entire community, the students, and the value of your home in the future.

Ask a realtor what the value of your home will be ,if and when you sell it, if a new completed school is in town versus a compromised incomplete school  without the basic amenities a new school possesses. Envision the taxes going up on overrides for years to come to piece meal it.

Our committees, followed the rules of the state to get reimbursement. They presented information to us from professionals to get a dollar amount for  town meeting. That number was wrong then but it is guaranteed now to be correct..

If they asked me for  $124,000,000 a year ago instead of $108,000,000 my vote still would have been YES.

My children will be out of school in two years and  may never step foot into a new school ,  but whether I stay in No. Reading or move, my house value will be worth more if it is  completed finished and not half done.

Take a deep breath, allow the selectmen to try to recoup some of the money from the Architect and professionals if possible, and allow the town to move forward with the schools completion as we originally intended.

Take an aspirin, bite the bullet and vote Yes.

Rita Mullin