After reading the articles in the Weekend Gazette (“Future of Easthampton’s middle, elementary schools rests with May 22 vote” and “Officials spell out advantages of new school,” May 12), I realize there is only one sensible option for Easthampton: We have to vote yes to build the new school.
I don’t want my tax dollars spent on very expensive Band-Aids to these century-old schools. I want my tax dollars spent properly and wisely, and that means facing the fact that a new school must be built.
I don’t understand those who don’t want to pay for a new school because “we didn’t take care of the old schools.” We took care of them enough to make them last over 100 years.
Even factoring in White Brook Middle School (which didn’t last because of 1970s construction methods), the average life span of the four schools comes out to 97 years. Can any other community in the commonwealth say they made their schools last that long?
You don’t want your taxes to go up? Neither do I, but we can pay for expensive repairs indefinitely or we can solve the problem right now. I’m voting “yes” on May 22.
Jim Crabb
Easthampton