LtE: Vote Yes on Question 10

Dear Reading neighbors:

As the override vote approaches, we find ourselves reflecting on why we chose to raise our family in Reading and why, more than 30 years later, we remain grateful to call it home.

We moved here in 1995 with our four school-aged children after researching several communities. The quality of Reading’s schools was our top priority. We wanted our children to have access to strong academics, dedicated teachers, and a community that valued education. Reading exceeded our expectations.

We also appreciate everything else that makes Reading such a wonderful place to live. Its proximity to Boston, commuter rail service, and easy access to Routes 93 and 95 make it an ideal location. We have an outstanding library, wonderful community activities, and excellent municipal services. Our police and fire departments are among the very best. Whether responding to an emergency or helping with more routine needs, we have always found them to be highly trained, dedicated professionals who consistently go above and beyond. Our Department of Public Works also deserves a shout-out. From paving and sewer maintenance to snowplowing, street cleaning, and caring for our trees and public spaces, their work affects our daily lives.

Our four children are now successful adults, and they often tell us how grateful they are to have grown up in Reading. I was fortunate to spend 23 years working in the Reading Public Schools as a reading/ELA instructional specialist, serving in all of the schools during my career. I saw firsthand the dedication of our teachers and staff and their commitment to providing students with a high-quality education. Many of us spent our own money on classroom materials because we cared so deeply about our students and wanted to give them the best possible experience. My husband spent 45 years working in the financial industry and understands the fiscal responsibilities involved in maintaining a strong community. Providing the quality schools and town services Reading residents have come to expect requires an investment.

Now that we are retired, we appreciate Reading from a different perspective. We enjoy our outstanding library and its many offerings, our senior center, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing our police, fire, public works, and other town departments are there when we need them. What a joy it is to live here.

We also love seeing new families choose Reading as the place to raise their children, just as we did more than 30 years ago. We want them to experience the same high-quality schools, strong public services, and sense of community that meant so much to us while raising our own family. To us, that is what being part of a community is all about: appreciating what others helped build for us, supporting one another today, and doing our part for subsequent generations.

Of course, maintaining all of this comes at a cost. The price of providing these services continues to rise, just as the cost of everything else has. If we want Reading to remain a community with excellent schools, dedicated public servants, and the high standards that attracted so many of us here, we need to continue investing in it. The value people place on living in Reading reflects the strength of our community. We hope Reading will continue to be a place where families want to settle, children can thrive, and residents of every generation are proud to call home.

We urge Reading voters to support the override and vote YES on Question 10 on or before November 3.

Sincerely,

Debra and John Kwiatek
Red Gate Lane