BCAT News

The following is a letter to the editor and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of BNEWS. 

Over the past year, I’ve learned first-hand how much our children are our most precious commodity. Our hopes, dreams and even fears are instilled in them. They are worth our investment and should be given every resource to help ensure their future success. A modern, updated high school would not only do that, but would also increase property values and benefit the entire community in many other ways as well. This is only one resident’s opinion, and I acknowledge that this is a very tough decision. Every situation is different and for some people, this is too big of an ask right now. I totally understand that.

This plan was not scraped together between the comment lines of a social media post. Town Meeting appropriated $1.5mil for a feasibility study to find the best solution for the town. The 14+ member building committee spent over two years deliberating and strategizing on many different build options. The committee worked with Dore and Whittier, an architect and project management firm that has built many schools all over the Commonwealth. They also held many public meetings soliciting input from anyone that cared to provide it.

I will admit that the bunching together of concurrent projects on our docket has been terrible planning by the town. Quite honestly, I wish I got involved in Town Government sooner. I have long wanted a new high school, since the days when I roamed those very same halls back in 1991. My desire for a new high school was exacerbated when I hosted two foreign exchange students in 2023. During their sporting events, I saw many of the new high schools in the area. Burlington has fallen behind and deserves an updated, modern and code compliant high school for our children.

Out of the many different choices, I personally wanted a complete new build. I never realized how challenging the high school site is. Instead of choosing the new build, the committee decided to listen to the neighborhood and chose another route that would still provide an entirely new educational wing for Burlington students. This is just another example of how this is a community project and was planned and designed for the maximum benefit of all residents, abutters and people across town alike.

While the phrase is catchy, when I read “no new taxes” I also read “no new schools,” because you literally can’t build a school without an increase in taxes. The town applied for state assistance for 13 straight years to no avail. Some are claiming the process was faulty, but we had no problem getting MSBA assistance for a new elementary school once we shifted focus. Furthermore, this is a good time to build. The bids for the new police station came in very favorable and that project should end up being several million under budget.

Lastly, this vote is not a referendum on the current school committee, Superintendent or anyone else. To treat it this way would be short-sighted and misguided. A yes vote on November 15th is an investment: in our town, school district and most importantly the sons and daughters of Burlington that are in our schools now and for the ones that will follow over the next 50-75 years.

I’ve lived in Burlington for most of my 52 years. It is my home and where I’ve chosen to put my stakes into the ground. It’s certainly not perfect, but I love this town and there is no place on Earth I would rather live. I believe in Burlington and believe it is worth my investment. This is why I volunteer countless hours serving on Town Government and why I’ll be voting yes on November 15th.

I would love for you to join me.

Sincerely,
Mike Espejo
Prouty Road