I’m a triple threat here in Acton: a taxpayer, a teacher at the high school, and a parent of a kindergartener.
The override is certainly a difficult amount of money to swallow, and people may well have qualms with what they perceive as bloat in the school district. But voting against the override to send a message to administrators or the School Committee only punishes teachers and students. My child and his peers will have a lower-quality education if class sizes rise. I will not be able to spend as much time as I do on each of my students’ work if there are more kids in each of my sections. Our reputation as a community that values schools will be greatly diminished.
If we cannot pass Acton’s first override since the Bush administration, our ability to attract top educators to this district will likewise evaporate. What applicant would look at a district that faces uncertain support from its residents and wants to dwell in the kind of job insecurity faculty in our schools are dealing with right now?
Many of us moved here because of the great schools. An additional investment in them—albeit a painful one for many—is necessary. Please vote ‘yes’ at the ballot and Town Meeting.
Josh Fischel