To the editor:
On June 4, Lynnfield faces a defining vote — one that will shape the future of our town.
Our schools, library, and senior center will all lose if this does not pass. I am urging the residents of Lynnfield to vote YES.
When my husband and I moved here 11 years ago, we chose to raise our family in Lynnfield because we had heard so many wonderful things about the town – home values, proximity to Boston and most importantly, the schools. It was not an easy choice. We were a North Shore vs South Shore couple – but I stood firm on Lynnfield and won… Kidding aside, my husband did do his research and liked what he saw in Lynnfield. 11 years and two boys later, the consequences Lynnfield will face if we do not pass this override make us both nervous about our family’s future here.
This is about preserving the services and values that make Lynnfield a community we’re proud to call home. If the override fails, each school in town will face staffing and program cuts that directly impact our children. Class sizes will grow and support services will shrink. The quality of education will suffer. This affects everyone – not just those with children in the schools. When I speak to those in town who were raised here themselves, they talk about why they stayed to raise their families and education has always been on top. I think it is great so many chose to stay in Lynnfield where they grew up; it says a lot about the town. Schools are a major component of where home values are – we do not want that to drop.
Our library is also at risk. Without sufficient funding, it will lose its state accreditation, meaning residents would lose access to interlibrary loans, grant opportunities and essential programs. This would be a serious blow not just to readers, but to job seekers, students and families who rely on the library as a free and open hub of learning. My boys and I are at the library once a week to check out new books. They are avid readers and love that if they can’t find a book they want, they can get it from another library. They think that is very cool. And I personally think its cool they know how important the library is.
Without this override, our senior center — a vital space for wellness, social connection and support for older adults — faces a funding shortfall that threatens its programs and services. For many of our seniors, the center is more than a building — it’s a lifeline that we all may be utilizing those services some day.
Please join me in voting YES on June 4.
Sincerely,
Kristen Dorsky
Perkins Lane
