Brazenly, Lex Yes campaign uses PTO email and $ to push agenda

Multiple PTOs/PTAs have come to the aid of the Yes campaign to spread fear about failure to pass the 2017 debt exclusion. The Hastings PTA writes:

"We need at least 5,000 votes to get these projects funded. Please make sure yours is one of them!"

On November 27, Hastings school co-presidents blasted an email to all PTO members with a dire message about failure to pass these overrides. This follows the thrice repeated emails from the Lexington High PTO promising financial aid and support to the Yes campaign. All told, nine PTOs/PTAs have lent direct support and probable resources to the Yes campaign.

While state law allows PTOs and PTAs to engage in political activity, surely the intent of those laws is to allow them to support the best education for their family constituencies. The Lexington high school has little purpose in diverting resources from the high school to support a fire station. However, the close interconnections between the PTOs, the Lexington school committee, and the Yes campaign make all these actions possible.

Let's examine the claims which the Hastings PTO emailing has made about the Lexington preschool debt exclusion:

Claim 1: The preschool is necessary

Fact Check: Yes. It is necessary. In fact it already exists.

Claim 2: Out of district preschool placement will be $100,000 per year

Fact Check: At the CAAL debate $54,000 was cited by Yes supporters. Considerable inflation in one week.

Claim 3: "[W]e will soon be forced to send these young students--toddlers-- out of district".

Fact Check: At the CAAL debate, this was described as applicable to 2 students who are already out of district.

Claim 4: Proposals [to save money] have been rejected outright

Fact Check: Yes, the school committee unanimously rejected a proposal to reduce the number of unsubsidized METCO students from 250 to 150, freeing up space and decreasing operating costs.

Claim 5: Opponents of Yes say MSBA funding could be used, which is a "dubious and risky claim"

Fact Check: It seems dubious to ignore the $10 million in MSBA funding as Dedham has done for their preschool-K building.

(Addendum: The school committee position is that MSBA does not fund a school which is only pre-K. This committee's position is that Lexington should propose projects such as Dedham's preschool/kindergarten which are acceptable for MSBA funding.)

More interesting perhaps are the claims by the Committee for Systemwide Master Planning Before Building a New Preschool which are conceded by silence:

• $300,000 per student is extremely inefficient (compare with $75,000 per student for Hastings)
• 77 students are enrolled in the preschool today, which is above the state mandate
• 28 special education students are enrolled in the preschool, about half of which are full time
• a 600 foot walk between two sites is not an insurmountable difficulty
• operating costs will increase having a separate new building while leaving Old Harrington in place (without any plan for that facility)
• A $300 million new Lexington high school is missing from the 10 year forecast
• A 7th elementary school is missing from the 10 year forecast
• An operating override to cover a projected deficit is missing from the 10 year forecast
• There is no specific forecast to justify expanding the preschool from 157 slots (capital expenditures committee report) to 180 slots
• There is no compelling reason to build the preschool project in 2018
• Building a single story development when land is scarce makes little sense
• A systemwide master plan would include plans for timing and approach for Lexington high school, timing and siting for a 7th elementary school, plan to relocate the school administration, final disposition of the Old Harrington building and land, and a preschool. This plan should be developed to a target capacity rather than endless discussion of how forecasts are inaccurate. Forecasts are always inaccurate! There is no systemwide plan today. We do not have time not to plan!

(Addendum: In private conversation one school committee member objects to our stating that we do not have a plan. The school committee puts a great deal of effort into planning. Our claim is that the plan must include a financial projection for the largest items, and anything falling short of that would not constitute a "system wide" master plan.)

• Lexington's taxes are now the eighth highest in Massachusetts; and at a higher tax rate than the five of seven communities with higher average taxes
• If the MSBA does not contribute to the high school, it could cost much more. So much for "dubious and risky" strategy of working with the MSBA!

For more facts and commentary, be sure to visit: https://www.facebook.com/planbeforepreschool/

We urge voters to gather facts, form their own opinions, and vote on Monday December 4, 2017

Should Lexington want to be first at everything?

1. Weston ($19,380) @ 1.24%
2. Sherborn ($15,425) @ 2.05%
3. Lincoln ($15,185) @ 1.37%
4. Dover ($14,527) @ 1.31%
5. Wellesley ($14,333) @ 1.18%
6. Carlisle ($14,062) @ 1.76%
7. Concord ($13,895) @ 1.41%
8. Lexington ($13,506) @ 1.45%

These towns, average tax bills and tax rates are derived from the Massachusetts Division of Local Services, 2017.