South Hadley is at a crossroads, and the decision before us is not simply about taxes. It is about the kind of community we want to be.
A Proposition 21⁄2 override is never an easy ask. It places a real burden on residents, and for some, that burden feels impossible. That reality must be acknowledged honestly and compassionately. But we also need to confront another hard truth: the cost of failing to support our schools will be far greater — and far more permanent — than the cost of this override.
At the heart of this issue are our classrooms. Smaller class sizes allow teachers to know their students, to differentiate instruction, and to ensure that no child slips through the cracks. When class sizes grow, attention shrinks, and students, especially those who need the most support, are the ones who suffer.
But education is not confined to desks and textbooks. Extracurricular activities and athletics are where many students discover who they are and who they can become. They learn discipline, teamwork, leadership, and resilience. They build relationships with peers and mentors that carry them through difficult years. For some students, these programs are the very reason they stay engaged in school at all.
If these opportunities are cut, the consequences will be immediate and severe. Families will look elsewhere. Students will school choice out of the district. Enrollment will decline, leading to further cuts, and the cycle will deepen. What begins as a budget problem quickly becomes a community crisis.
We must ask ourselves: what happens to a town when its school system can no longer offer the experiences that develop productive, engaged citizens? What happens when the programs that bring families here, and keep them here, are stripped away?
The answer is not theoretical. Property values decline. Community erodes. Young families stop coming. Those who can leave, do. And those who remain are left with fewer resources and fewer opportunities.
It is important to say this clearly: there are cuts that can and should be made. Many residents have raised valid concerns about administrative bloat and about the inefficiencies of maintaining multiple fire and water districts. There are also lingering questions about past financial decisions that deserve transparency and accountability. These are not trivial issues, and they should not be dismissed.
But even if every one of those concerns were addressed tomorrow, they would not solve the immediate crisis facing our schools.
This override is not a blank check. It is a way to stabilize the community while we make the structural changes that are long overdue. It gives South Hadley time to become leaner, more efficient, and more accountable. It also gives us the opportunity to advocate more forcefully at the state level, including urging the governor to release “rainy day” funds to support communities like ours.
At the same time, we must support those for whom this override will be a hardship. That means expanding awareness of tax-relief programs for seniors and low-income residents, exploring local assistance options, and fostering a culture of neighbor helping neighbor. A strong community does not ignore those who struggle; it finds ways to carry them forward together.
We also need to be clear about priorities. This is not the time for major new capital projects like a new SHELD building or a new Mosier School. Those are important conversations for another day, but right now, the focus must be on preserving what we already have and ensuring that it continues to function.
The choice before us is between investing in a sustainable future or allowing a slow unraveling that will cost far more in the long run.
Far fewer people will leave South Hadley because of a tax increase than will leave if the school system can no longer function in a meaningful way. That is the reality we must face.
And if the override fails, the responsibility does not disappear. The community must come together immediately with a clear, actionable plan to preserve the programs — especially athletics and extracurriculars — that are essential to student engagement and community stability. Without them, the damage will not just be educational; it will be generational.
South Hadley has always prided itself on being a place where people look out for one another, where schools are a source of pride, and where families can put down roots. We can still be that place, but only if we make the difficult choice to protect what matters most.
Let’s make our town lean while also ensuring it remains strong.
Tina Lesniak lives in South Hadley.