When I served on the North Attleborough School Committee I may not have said much, but I was always listening. Through dozens of meetings over three years, it became clear that North Attleborough needs a new high school and the time to commit to it is now.
A major reason I ran for School Committee in 2021 is because of the current North Attleborough High School building. When I began the college application process as a junior, there was tremendous uncertainty because North Attleborough High School was at risk of losing accreditation, largely due to the state of facilities. We are now staring down over $107 million in future capital projects that must be completed for long-term use of the current high school. The design choices made 50 years ago are at the limit of their utility for the education of today and of tomorrow. If these changes are not implemented, and accreditation is eventually threatened again, students will have to worry about their transcripts being accepted by colleges, we might lose eligibility for grants related to the school, and the reputation of the school, school district and town will suffer.
Another thing I witnessed during my tenure on the committee is the time and effort already put into this project. The Massachusetts School Building Authority is prepared to cover around $100 million due to the work we have already done to comply with their award requirements. If we were to vote no on this and reject this assistance, we are unlikely to get it again anytime soon.
This is not an issue of “deserve,” it is an issue of the reality we face, and the choices we have available to meet it. We could certainly spend over $107 million in repairs to a learning-incompatible school and lose an additional $100 million by forgoing state assistance we have worked diligently for. Or, we could spend approximately $190 million for an entirely new school that will keep our children competitive in education for decades to come. I hope you will all join me in voting “yes” on June 3.
Joe Flaherty, NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH
