Name: Vineeta Kumar
Address: 14 Munroe Road
Precinct: 9
e-mail address: vineetaforlexington [at] gmail.com
phone number: 408-394-5320

Community Activities: 

• Town Meeting Member: 3 terms, Precinct 3 (2017-2022), Precinct 9 (current term after redistricting)
• Chair, Town Meeting Members Association (TMMA), 2021-23
• Appointed to 2 Town Manager Search Committees
• Core team member of Article 8 – Dismantle Systemic Racism (passed by unanimous vote at Town Meeting in STM 2022)
• LHS PTO President
• Lexington Education Foundation (LEF) Board Member
• Former IGIG President -(Indians Getting Involved Group)

The School Building Committee has approved a plan, “Bloom” for the new high school and building on the current playing fields in the Center. Do you support this decision? If not, what would you propose as an alternative?

I support the School Building Committee’s selection of the “Bloom” plan,which includes building on the current playing fields in the Center.  As a parent of a child who graduated from LHS in 2021, I have no doubt that a new high school is needed. It was in need of replacement while my son was at LHS, and the urgency has only increased. I have followed SBC’s proceedings and attended many community information sessions. While the final design may not have been my choice in every aspect, I respect that a diligent and thoughtful process, guided by professional expertise, and with consideration of all stakeholder inputs and concerns, has been followed. The SBC is made up of community members from all walks of life, and students have been a key voice at every step. Our community-wide approach to planning has included forums and learning sessions over a period of nearly 2 years. Now that the Bloom plan, compliant to MSBA requirements, has been chosen, we must move forward with next steps in the process. Delaying and second guessing at this stage will jeopardize the state’s approval and funding contribution and increase the ultimate cost to the Town.

Playing fields are an important part of our Town’s infrastructure, vital to students and the community. Taking some of them offline for construction staging in either plan will be an imposition, but a temporary one.

That said, I do not take the high cost of Bloom lightly, and if elected, I will work with my colleagues on the Select Board to maintain guardrails and scrutinize every cost element going forward, while staying compliant and without sacrificing the educational excellence which is the pride of our town. The need for an educationally sound learning environment for our children, suited to the 21st century, is paramount, therefore I support the Bloom plan.