Teachers support Driscoll project

The following opinion piece was written by Ben Fishkin, Mackenzie Snow, Erica Sullivan, Jesse Kirdahy, Lynda Roseman, and Anne Reid, current and former Driscoll School teachers.

As Brookline teachers, we know firsthand how the state of the Driscoll building is impacting teaching and student learning. We have experienced how overcrowding in the classrooms and common spaces has made it harder for children to have the educational experience that we in Brookline expect for our students.

The failure to provide Driscoll students with an appropriate educational environment is evidenced daily in myriad ways: a lunchroom so small that students eat lunch in midmorning, instruction occurring in the hallways, parts of the building so cold that students have to wear their coats inside. Trust us that these complaints aren’t those of “privileged parents”--they are real detriments to learning that belie inequitable learning conditions.

The current building is badly in need of work. The project team dedicated significant time and effort working with the school and faculty to establish what kinds of spaces we need at Driscoll. The proposed new school building is the result of years of planning and public process. While living through construction of a new building will not be easy, we know it is the best way to get this project done as quickly as possible. The faculty and school leaders will work closely with the project team to make sure this transition is undertaken safely, just like at the high school.

As educators, we teach our students every day about the importance of community and doing what we can do help others. This vote isn’t just about Driscoll--building a school with additional capacity will bring much-needed relief to the overcrowding that has plagued our schools for years. The ripple effect will help families and educators townwide. We owe it to each other to move forward with this plan now, before it slips through our fingers.

Please join us in voting yes on December 10th. It’s the right way forward for our students, our school community, and our town.

Sincerely,

Ben Fishkin, Pierce Special Education teacher and former Driscoll kindergarten teacher
Mackenzie Snow, Driscoll teacher, first grade
Erica Sullivan, Driscoll teacher, second grade
Jesse Kirdahy, Driscoll Educational Technology Specialist and former Driscoll 5th grade teacher
Lynda Roseman, Former Driscoll BEEP paraprofessional
Anne Reid, Driscoll Librarian