We are writing to share our strongest support for the new high school building project for North Attleboro. We are graduates of the NAHS Class of 2024 and products of the North Attleborough public school system who maintain strong ties to the town.
As it currently stands, our high school does not have enough space for students. Our classrooms are cramped, especially during cold and flu season when the lack of windows in many classrooms causes inadequate airflow and makes the rooms stuffy. Half of our newest and largest classrooms, the portables, flooded last September and were left unusable for a majority of the year, forcing students and teachers to meet in other smaller classrooms throughout the building. These repairs took up much of the year and caused major disruption to the school community, and if we don’t take this opportunity to create a new school, we will face years of costly renovation and disruption to thousands of students.
We want the high school to be a point of pride for our community. Not only will students benefit from a new high school, but the broader town and region will be able to enjoy the space. The new high school will create a facility for the arts to be highlighted. For example, with the updated performing arts wing, North would have the ability to host events like the SEMMEA music festivals. In addition, the greater community would be able to use the school as a gathering space to host events like school committee meetings, dance recitals, alumni celebrations, and much more. With an updated, accessible, welcoming space, our new high school has a chance to foster school spirit, and host individuals in and around the area to show off our Big Red Pride.
Although we don’t necessarily have an academic stake in the new high school, we are encouraging all North Attleboro residents to strongly consider voting yes in this upcoming election. As recent graduates, we especially encourage other recent grads to make a plan to vote for the next generation of students.
Meagan Lee and Matt Garofalo, NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH