To the editor:
I am writing to express my sincere appreciation for the record number of Lynnfielders that came to Town Meeting last week and voted to pass the town’s override – and to encourage everyone to mark their calendars for the final step of the override: voting YES on the ballot question June 4.
Seeing the line for Town Meeting wrapped around the building and down Main Street was a proud moment for me and many others in town. It’s gratifying and encouraging to see the engagement that Lynnfield residents of all ages have with their town government and the dedication that folks showed to ensuring that the override budget that will impact the schools, library and senior center moved forward.
I truly appreciated the patience that residents approached Town Meeting with, and want to especially thank Town Moderator Steve Walsh and town officials for handling the situation with grace and flexibility.
Now that the override has passed at Town Meeting, there is just one final step left to preserve Lynnfield’s educational system and the important services offered by our library and senior center: voting in the special town election on June 4 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Lynnfield High School. If you cannot make the June 4 vote, you can vote early at the Town Clerk’s office from May 24 to May 30, or request an absentee ballot. After spending many hours at Town Meeting ensuring that the override advanced to the next step, it’s now up to us to ensure that it passes at the ballot box.
As the Chair of the School Committee, I’d be remiss not to remind readers of what’s at stake for our schools should the override not pass. Our district will lose 56 educators and staff members, with class sizes ballooning to more than 30 in many grades (including every grade in the middle school). We’d lose all of our interventionists and much of our support staff. AP classes and electives at the high school — which make our students competitive for college — would be cut. These are just a few of the things that would create a massive hit to Lynnfield as a top educational district.
Please continue Lynnfield’s commitment to educational excellence and take the final step in passing this override by voting on June 4. Thank you for your continued commitment to our town.
Sincerely,
Kristen Elworthy
The views expressed in this letter are my own and not necessarily those of the Lynnfield School Committee.
