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 absolutely support the decision to move forward with the “Bloom” design for the new high school.

Do I wish we’d been able to built a new high school years ago when construction costs were lower? Of course, but this is the can that’s been kicked down the road for years. Do I look forward to my taxes going up as a result of building a new high school with no longer have a child in the school system, of course not. However, I go back to a time when we needed operating overrides to maintain school budgets and older residents felt they had a responsibility to approve them since seniors had supported their children. With how the numbers have been developed, one hopes the final cost comes in below what's being proposed as with other communities' high school projects. The town has worked hard to minimize the future impacts on the taxpayers. For a number of years increased tax revenue from new commercial projects have been put into a Capital Stabilization Fund to help offset residents’ tax increases resulting from the high school project.

The fact of the matter is the Bloom project has been vetted so well by so many. I understand there's a group opposed to the Bloom project but as with others, I am tired of the misinformation going out which has been countered by many. Given my years of town involvement I continue to believe we're the best managed town around.