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YES costs
less. The only alternative to YES, which will build a new school
with state funding, is to address overcrowding and critical building needs
by purchasing 17 trailers and making emergency Wilson repairs. These
100% non-reimbursable costs would be funded from the Town's operating budget
and/or through short-term borrowing, and these expenses will be paid for
by service cuts and new fees. In about ten years, Wilson will require
replacement at much more than current costs. Natick voters get
to choose YES to meet our Town's needs responsibly, or NO to pay more for
an inferior and expensive solution.
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Wilson
Middle School and Kennedy Middle School are both overcrowded because of
growing enrollment that will last at least ten more years, and probably
much longer. Increasing enrollment in Natick is part of a national
trend. Natick voters get to choose between YES, for an overcrowding
solution that is fiscally and educationally responsible, or NO to solve
the problem more expensively with a misuse of your tax dollars.
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Wilson
Middle School was economically built in 1958 to last 25-30 years.
Renovation is theoretically possible, but is virtually as expensive as
a new school; will subject students and teachers to a poor learning environment
for two years; and carries the risks of cost escalation that are common
with any renovation. Vote YES to support a solution that has been
endorsed by eight different town boards and committees more than 15 times.
There is no town board, report or committee that has ever endorsed a Wilson
renovation plan, because no renovation plan has EVER been shown to cost
less than 90-95% of the cost of a new school, and all renovation plans
carry unacceptable financial risks and other negative consequences.
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We must
replace Wilson Middle School as economically as possible, and as soon as
possible. The proposed plan costs Natick Taxpayers the least, and
spreads the cost over the entire town for 20 years. The alternative
to acting immediately is to purchase 17 trailers and make emergency repairs
over the next several years, at a cost of over $8 million - and then we
will still have to replace Wilson in 10-15 years. These costs are
not reimbursable and will have a major impact on Natick's budget.
Vote
YES to insure your Town's well-being. A NO vote offers NO solution.
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We can
and will provide tax relief for Natick's residents on fixed incomes.
There are a wide array of tax credits and
abatements offered to Natick taxpayers. Safe and adequate schools
should not be weighed against the well-being of anyone in our community.
A YES Vote can be made with full confidence that Natick is a caring
and supportive community.
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The Natick
School Department, School Committee and the entire community can and will
support:
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a financially
responsible plan to renovate Natick High School, which will be developed
with public discussion and input, with a thorough factual basis for renovations
and repairs, and with full accounting for new State reimbursement options,
which have not been fully developed and will not be until well after we
know the specific nature of the needs at the High School;
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the Town's
needs for adequate staffing to support increased enrollment, which
are subject to an annual budget review process; full and open public discussion;
and the normal budget process through the Finance Committee and Town Meeting;
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the resources
to meet the mandates of Education Reform and Special Education,
and to provide a quality education to all schoolchildren in Natick, with
maximum possible state assistance.
If
we pass this override, we will have the resources to work towards these
goals. If we don't, educational and other Town programs will be affected,
because the annual Operating Budget will be tapped to address long-term
capital needs for education.
If
you are inclined to vote against the override, please consider...
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how Natick
will pay for modular classrooms, building repairs and other measures that
will be required by growing enrollment and needed repairs;
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that two
dozen alternatives have been explored and considered by several commissions
and professionals;
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what the
economic and educational costs and consequences of a "no" vote will be;
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whether
we have an obligation to every generation in Natick - yesterday, today
and tomorrow - to plan responsibly.
If
you plan to vote No, or if you are undecided, please challenge your fellow
citizens and town leaders to answer these questions. Please make
an informed decision!
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