Letter: Vote Yes for Greylock School Project
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To the Editor:
There is a big election coming. Not the one in November, the one in October. An election that will likely have more dramatic consequences locally than the national one.
On Oct. 8, every registered voter will have an opportunity to weigh in on the Greylock School project. It's complicated, but of utmost importance, and will have a far-reaching impact. This special election will decide if a new school is built on the grounds of the current Greylock School, or if North Adams will make repairs to Brayton as needed. Many, myself included, are dismayed at the loss of Brayton. It is too new to be so compromised! Yet here we are.
The problems at Brayton are serious, and waiting in the wings to be discovered. It is known that Brayton needs a new roof, mechanical upgrades to the air handling system, mold remediation and monitoring, and possible upgrades for ADA compliance. The cost and extent of these repairs is unknown, but likely in the $10 million-plus range.
This cost only addresses the immediate and known failures of the building. There are still the unknown unknowns, and issues with the school that are harder to quantify. Brayton School is partly subterranean. Having classrooms below ground causes moisture issues, and limits classrooms in regard to natural light. The school abuts the former YMCA, now dubbed the "North Adams Recreation Center," and because of this about half of the classrooms have no windows.
Security is an issue as well. Overlooked at the time the school was built are the many access points between the YMCA and Brayton school. It is not inconceivable that an individual with ill intent could access the school, and many of the classrooms. A school building would never be built this way today. The building also does not have sprinklers, adding to the safety and security concerns.
The "harder to quantify" things are the not purely financial aspects of this project such as: Do students suffer from a lack of natural light? Are asthmatic and students with breathing problems at a disadvantage due to the climate in the building? Are students proud of their school? We know the costs of the new Greylock project, how we will pay for it, and the impact it will have on taxpayers. We also know that roughly two-thirds of the project will be paid by the MSBA. Once built, the building will be warm, inviting, modern, safe, and will provide a quality place for educators to teach and students to receive an education.
There is a lot of talk about declining population numbers. I personally heard from many new North Adams residents that what attracted them to the city was our robust pre-K program. If we, as a community, want to attract people to the city, we need to provide them with attractive things. The infrastructure plan for downstreet, the northern tier rail line, the Hoosac River revival efforts, and the new Greylock School project are all examples of this city’s progress, and it would be a shame to halt these initiatives in their tracks. It is important to remember that projections are just that, and if we make the city attractive to newcomers, they might just come. North Adams is on the right track, we should do everything in our power to not impede its growth.
The rhetoric right now is troubling. Many would like to paint this as an "us" versus "them" situation. I like to think about the question as "What is best for the children of North Adams." For me, that answer is a new Greylock. I want the children of North Adams to have pride in their school. To look back one day and know that organized and dedicated people worked very hard so they would have a safe and productive early education. On Oct. 8, make sure your voice is heard. Do your civic duty and stand tall with your vote.
Alcide Bullett Jr.
North Adams, Mass.
