Dear Editor,
I am writing to urge my fellow residents to vote YES for the Reading override.
In the nearly nine years since Reading last passed an override, we have been buoyed by strong reserves, pandemic-era federal funds, new growth from downtown development, and of course the hard work of the town administration, our elected officials, and volunteer residents such as those on the School and Finance Committees.
But now, due to a number of external factors (particularly costs that have risen at a faster rate than the one allowed by Prop 2½), we must again pass an override to continue providing the services our town depends on: police officers, firefighters, and paramedics who serve and protect us; a library that serves as an important source of information and a key community center; and town staff to ensure we are able to get our licenses, permits, and other services that make life in Reading run smoothly.
Perhaps most importantly, I believe we must support our schools. An article in the October 13 issue of The Boston Globe titled "Similar Towns, Diverging School Districts" detailed how two of our neighboring towns have fared over the last few years. While Wakefield's student scores have improved, Stoneham's have fallen "among the furthest in the state and [remain] significantly lower than 2019 levels."
The article continues, "Stoneham has also struggled to retain teachers in part because the school district faced a financial crunch. Voters had rejected several budget overrides, and when [Stoneham Superintendent Kristin] DeFrancisco started, she had to fill more than 30 teaching positions. [...] This past year, voters approved an override that has helped the district significantly, DeFrancisco said."
Here in Reading, the teachers, administrative staff, and members of the School Committee have worked hard to ensure our schools are some of the highest-performing in Massachusetts, while balancing budgets under difficult circumstances such as COVID. Failure to pass this override could result in the loss of up to 15 educators and 20 paraprofessionals in the schools.
Therefore, I strongly urge my fellow residents to vote Yes for Reading on Tuesday, November 3.
Thank you,
Jason F.C. Clarke
Ash Street
LtE: Please vote Yes for Reading
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