Support a new Parker School for Billerica

There's no doubt about it, the Parker School needs to be replaced. You have heard it from all the selectmen, School Committee, superintendent, parents and more than two-thirds of the Town Meeting members.

[NO MONEY]

the state is cutting the school building authorities money,there likely will be no reimbursement from the state.it's a disgrace the school was not maintained leading to this conundrum where we need a new school but can't afford it.

[SOS]

Build the school! Too bad rep.greene didn't get behind this one and help.

[Resident]

No Thanks, come back in a few years if the economy picks up. I don't believe the bull about only getting the money now, we'll still be able to get it in a few years, especially if the economy picks up. I don't believe the scare tactics.

[Mike L]

NO MONEY wrote:

the state is cutting the school building authorities money,there likely will be no reimbursement from the state.it's a disgrace the school was not maintained leading to this conundrum where we need a new school but can't afford it.

When did this happen? Have you notified all the other cities/towns in the state scheduled to receive funding? How is it that this has not been reported on TV, newspaper or internet?

Either you have inside knowledge from the Governor's office or you are an idiot.

[scott]

big no, you and your fellow members need to show us a long term plan,that includes maintenance. We also need to replace and update the vining, marshall, locke and hS. Before asking for more money why do not you and the rest of the municpal employees take furloguhs, wage reductions, and no raises, and increased medical like those of use the dreaded private sector. Do not play the kid or property values , Until current zoning laws are changed and enforced curb appeal and perception will never change. BIG FAT NO

[Growin Up]

I will play the "kid card". Would you be comfortable sending one of your kids to the current Parker School? Would you be comfortable sending them to the Vining, with it's air quality issues? Some folks may say that this is being couched as a "kid issue", well, get over it, this is about the children in the town of Billerica. This is NOT about poor maintenance in the past. This is not about liberals, conservatives, the "old 3 amigos", the "new 3 amigos". This is not about too many town employees, or sick leave buy-backs. This is about the children of Billerica, period. The new Parker School needs to be built. Then, we take care of the other school's in need of replacement or repair.

scott wrote:

big no, you and your fellow members need to show us a long term plan,that includes maintenance. We also need to replace and update the vining, marshall, locke and hS. Before asking for more money why do not you and the rest of the municpal employees take furloguhs, wage reductions, and no raises, and increased medical like those of use the dreaded private sector. Do not play the kid or property values , Until current zoning laws are changed and enforced curb appeal and perception will never change. BIG FAT NO

[Voter]

Resident wrote:

No Thanks, come back in a few years if the economy picks up. I don't believe the bull about only getting the money now, we'll still be able to get it in a few years, especially if the economy picks up. I don't believe the scare tactics.

Money from state probally will not be available in a few years. Not everyone gets state money.
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/punews/local_s...

[Voter]

scott wrote:

big no, you and your fellow members need to show us a long term plan,that includes maintenance. We also need to replace and update the vining, marshall, locke and hS. Before asking for more money why do not you and the rest of the municpal employees take furloguhs, wage reductions, and no raises, and increased medical like those of use the dreaded private sector. Do not play the kid or property values , Until current zoning laws are changed and enforced curb appeal and perception will never change. BIG FAT NO

Saying NO to state money is a mistake when the school does need to be replaced. For the issues you mentioned, hopefully the new town manager will start to address those.

[Open your Eyes]

Voter wrote:

<quoted text>
Money from state probally will not be available in a few years. Not everyone gets state money.
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/punews/local_s...

That is what the problem is? What is the interest rate on the balance going to be in several years?

[NO MONEY]

the governors speech last thursday in worcester.cutting 27 million from the sba this fiscal year.it was in the boston globe on friday.

[KAP]

The fact is the Parker School needs to be replaced or it WILL close.
Teachers have fallen through the floors because they are literally crumbling underneath them. The air quality is not good, and the windows leak when it rains hard enough. There is not enough space to have dedicated art and music rooms. Right now some art classes are held in the hallways!
They have to hold 4 lunch sessions to make sure all the students can eat. Some kids are having lunch at 10:30am!!!
The Parker is also home to the "Compass Program" which is a program for kids with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. It would cost significantly more to send these children out of district, which is ultimately what will happen since the other elementary schools are so overcrowded it just would not be possible to give these kids an appropriate education under those conditions.
The average homeowner in Billerica will only see an increase of about $77 a YEAR on their tax bill! Give me a break people! Stop buying a few coffee's out every month, and you could pay for it! That's not a lot of money.
The debt exclusion does not even begin to show up on your tax bill until the year 2014. Also, the cost to the tax payer goes down the closer we get to paying this debt off.
VOTE YES!!!

[Tony]

Maybe the problem is with the current maintenance. Why invest the money if the new building will be as poorly maintained as the current. This is a bad time to spend money you're not sure will be reimbursed. Wait until the economy rebounds. Maybe just adding a smaller wing to the current building would do the trick.
It's not about the children, it's about the already overburdened taxpayers.

[Voter]

Tony wrote:

Maybe the problem is with the current maintenance. Why invest the money if the new building will be as poorly maintained as the current. This is a bad time to spend money you're not sure will be reimbursed. Wait until the economy rebounds. Maybe just adding a smaller wing to the current building would do the trick.
It's not about the children, it's about the already overburdened taxpayers.

State reimbursement will not go away as it is a contract with the town and the money is available now. The state would simply put the school building program on hold for any projects not approved yet. Since Billerica has been approved, it is ready to go pending the town putting up their share of the cost. Towns like Wilmington and Tewksbury who just started the process probally will get shut out of the program.

[scott]

I send my kids to catholic schools. Buildings are maintained and I do not have to deal teachers unions and imcompent budgets and admistrators that teach to a test. Again big fat no. I used my college education and it was very easy to see that the town is not able to maintain what it has. Why should I trust them with a new building. Again no long term vision. People on this blog only care about there child at the parker. Not my problem I have to worry about the big picture since no one else will or wants to really admoit how much money it is going to take to make up for 30 to 40 years of poor maintenance.

[Mike L]

Tony wrote:

Maybe the problem is with the current maintenance. Why invest the money if the new building will be as poorly maintained as the current. This is a bad time to spend money you're not sure will be reimbursed. Wait until the economy rebounds. Maybe just adding a smaller wing to the current building would do the trick.It's not about the children, it's about the already overburdened taxpayers.

Tony, I think you may represent the typical voter who comes to the polls:

"Maybe the problem is with the current maintenance"
No, the problem is lack of maintenance and inspection the past 50 years

"Why invest the money if the new building will be as poorly maintained as the current."
Good point. However, you assume that even though the people are outraged now after finding out the building has been ignored, that same thing will happen to this one. I can only say that if you look at the Ditson school today as an indicator, you will see that it is well maintained.

"This is a bad time to spend money you're not sure will be reimbursed"
I agree BUT we WILL be reimbursed. This is a false rumor that someone is spreading. The money has been appropriated by MSBA to us and several other towns.

"Wait until the economy rebounds"
You assume that it will not rebound by 2014. You assume that state will still reimburse at 55%. You assume construction costs will be the same. You assume the current school will be fine for several more years. ALL BAD ASSUMPTIONS! What are you basing your assumptions on?

"Maybe just adding a smaller wing to the current building would do the trick"
Wow Tony, do you think? Do you consider yourself well informed about the problem?

Tony, if this is voted down, I really think your reasons will be the reasons many voters will have. At this point two weeks away, I am not sure how to change that.

[Voter]

Mike L wrote:

<quoted text>
Tony, if this is voted down, I really think your reasons will be the reasons many voters will have. At this point two weeks away, I am not sure how to change that.

I would hope people would gather all the facts and not vote purely from fear, rumours, or anger toward town government. If you want to take out anger on town government, do it at the election in April, not against a project where the state is paying more than 50% of cost for a new school that the entire town can use.

[Mike L]

Does anyone know if, in that past 10 years, has any town in the state voted down a new school that would have received over 50% reimbursement? This includes those that would or would not have needed at 2 1/2 overide. Just curious.

[scott]

Voter you and the rest of your like still refuse to answer what the long term vision and goal is to rehab and build for the vining, marshall, locke, and high school. I can also tell that when times get tough the frist thing they cut is mainteance. I work in field that provides services to municipalities. The small tax increase is bull and you all know it., they max out the 2.5% each yaer and add three more schools at 70 plus the other three becuse we can not stay within a budget thats 280 plus the 250. so five hundred a year. amd for those increase we get nothing in return due to most of the money going to cover saleary and benefits, DO not reply with it's for the kids give me the long range Plan with details no promises details. If you can not answer then again no. Sorry for you parker folks but you need to blame school committee, selectmen, I can rest very easy with my choice

[KAP]

Tony- It is about the children AND the taxpayers! As parents of these children we have to pay the tax too you know! How comfortable would you be sending your child to a school like this?
Everyone is burdened with this economy. We all have to do our part to make our community better. Why would you choose to own a home somewhere but then not want to make the place you call home the best it can be? It's about Billerica as a whole.
Also, adding a smaller wing is ridiculous. That still would not solve the structural, and safety issues inside the actual building itself, so how does that address the issue at all?

I agree that the maintenance was overlooked and that is what got us where we are at. But had more people attended any of the presentations at town hall they would know that the floors were flawed from the begining. The vapor barrier and insulation were put on incorrectly and that has caused the floors to retain moisture and break down prematurely.

This is actually the best time to spend the money because contractors need work, therefore we will get pretty competitive pricing now. It will also put LOCAL contractors to work!

State reimbursement WILL go away. This rumor is just that a RUMOR. The state also reimburses very specific amounts according to what kind of school is being built. It has to meet very specific criteria.
So with that logic, say we wait, the economy starts to really rebound and contractors are not as willing to give the best prices.
Then we would be looking at a situation where construction will cost significantly more, and the state would reimburse significantly less, IF at all. The state has kept the funding it's offering closed up for quite some time now. The Parker School is one of 3 in this entire state that was deemed in desperate need of replacing! It won't be open much longer with the condition it's in.


Scott- That's wonderful that you can afford to send your children to private schools. However, most of us cannot! My two children have disabilities which takes up a lot of our budget. It's also not all about a child at the Parker! What about all the other kids in the other elementary schools??? What happens when their already overcrowded schools are faced with having to take on the kids from the Parker when it has to close???
Believe me, people like myself with a child at the Parker are pretty upset to learn about the lack of maintenance. There is currently a plan in place to not let this happen again, and the parents are going to make sure it is being followed. The MSBA has also approached the school about setting up a specific plan with money put in an account to pay for maintenance.

Saying no now when the state is willing to reimburse 55% is foolish. We NEED a new school NOW. We no longer have the luxury of time!

[Concerned Resident]

Resident wrote:

No Thanks, come back in a few years if the economy picks up. I don't believe the bull about only getting the money now, we'll still be able to get it in a few years, especially if the economy picks up. I don't believe the scare tactics.

This is because you haven't made the effort to get educated on this issue. Scare tactics are not involved. Unfortunately too many who haven't made the effort to go to meeting and tour the school are now saying where are our options. These meeting were always open to the public yet everone chose not to come. I am a resident, not one counsill and not in town politics but I am aware of whats going on. It just blows my mind that so many have voiced such negativity twords this project without any knowledge of how things work. This type of mind set is detrimental to Billerica.