On June 3, I will cast my vote in support of the new North Attleborough High School. Recently, the proposed project has gained attention among residents of our community. It is crucial that voters understand the dire need for a new school building.
A few weeks ago, I attended the community forum, where I had the opportunity to tour the school. As the parent of elementary-age children, I had never been beyond the gymnasium and lobby. It would be an understatement to say that I was dismayed by the state of the building. The lack of natural light, spaces too small to accommodate students, insufficient accessibility, and even safety hazards were just a few of the concerns I had. If you have not visited the high school, please consider doing so. Regardless of whether you will ever have a child enrolled there, I believe you would agree that our students deserve better.
Rather than include a comprehensive list of issues with the school, which you can find elsewhere, I would prefer to share the highlight of the evening. The students who led the tour were bright, well-spoken, passionate about their classes and activities, and highly complimentary of the teachers and staff. Throughout the tour, they stopped at various points in the school to explain how the changes in the proposed design would improve the educational experience. They volunteered their evening to advocate for a new school building, not because it will benefit them, but instead because they want more for future North students. These students will have long since graduated by the time a new school is built. Based on the impression they made, I suspect that they will be making a big impact wherever their post-graduation paths lead them. Yet despite the fact that they will not have the opportunity to attend a brand new school, they understand the importance of a modern educational facility.
I encourage you to emulate the mindset of this wonderful group of current high school students, and vote ‘Yes for NAHS.’
Stephanie Bacon, NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH
