At the Nov. 12 Town Meeting, Longmeadow’s progress toward building a much-needed middle school could be put in jeopardy by an article seeking to derail the work of the Middle School Building Committee (MSBC). Show your support for a new school by voting yes on Article 6.
In 2022, the town voted to begin the state-outlined MSBC process. This includes evaluating different potential sites, public input and state hearings to quality for Massachusetts construction reimbursements. After over a year of discussion, the MSBC’s preferred option is a single, consolidated school at the current Williams School property. The town will vote on funding in 2025.
Next month’s Town Meeting includes an article regarding the MSBC’s decision. A yes vote supports the plan to proceed with the proposal for the construction of a single school at Williams. A no vote asks the MSBC to prematurely rescind its decision and restart its work.
First, this petition was brought by a subset of Williams abutters who do not want a new school in their backyard. As members of the MSBC, we are mindful that no matter where a new school is placed, it will be in someone’s backyard, and we want to work with abutters on their concerns. But our duty is to make the best recommendation for all residents and students.
Second, Longmeadow has few spots to build a consolidated school (ex: Turner Park, Academy Drive); the MSBC considered and rejected every other one. The most common suggestion — Glenbrook, only moves potential concerns to another neighborhood. Compared to Glenbrook, Williams is centrally located on a major street, cheaper, and does not require modular classrooms.
Third, no decisions have been made on what would happen at Glenbrook — the town will decide after public input. Anyone who tells you otherwise is mistaken.
Finally, Article 6 will not directly have any effect on the MSBC’s process — it cannot undo the fall 2022 vote. But it is spreading misinformation and distracting focus from creating a plan for a modern and safe middle school with state funding.
Our community embraces education and prides itself on its school system — the No. 1 reason people move here. But our middle schools are sorely lacking — not up to code, undersized STEAM spaces, and layouts neither conducive to social and emotional learning nor as safe as residents want.
There are considerations that need to be addressed around traffic at Williams. If we do nothing, they won’t resolve on their own. Proposed designs could actually cut down on traffic by improving queuing and traffic patterns. We have an opportunity to tackle this from the ground up using 21st century thinking, not practices from 60+ years ago.
The MSBC has spent countless hours thinking, listening, and talking about its decision to put a consolidated middle school at Williams. We are proud of our service and hope you support the decision the MSBC made, and our children’s future, with a yes vote for Article 6.
Julie Morgan and Josh Levine
Longmeadow MSBC
