A letter to the editor from Minuteman Superintendent Dr. Edward A. Bouquillon about the district-wide vote on Sept. 20, 2016

September 9, 2016

To the Editor:

On Tuesday, September 20, voters in the Minuteman District will go to the polls in a special election to determine the fate of the Minuteman High School building project. I urge my fellow citizens living in the towns of Acton, Arlington, Belmont, Bolton, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Dover, Lancaster, Lexington, Lincoln, Needham, Sudbury, Stow, Wayland, and Weston to join me in casting a vote on that day between the hours of 12 noon and 8 p.m. (If you won’t be in town on Sept. 20, please contact your Town Clerk’s office about getting an absentee ballot.)

As Superintendent of the Minuteman District, I have been involved in this project since its inception. Working with the Minuteman School Building Committee, Minuteman School Committee, member towns, and the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), I believe we have jointly designed a project that all of us can be proud of.

For me, a new Minuteman High School:
 Supports the continuation of high quality career and vocational-technical education for our students that will improve the region’s local workforce and enhance our economic vitality
 Provides a safe, modern facility specifically designed to provide 21st century career and technical education along with relevant and rigorous academics
 Addresses long-standing structural, mechanical, and handicap accessibility issues that limit its educational effectiveness for all students
 Safeguards the commitment of $44 million dollars from the MSBA to keep down costs to local taxpayers
 Enables Minuteman to charge out-of-district towns a capital fee to cover their portion of the costs of a new building
 Retains Minuteman’s regional accreditation by the New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC)
 Avoids “Plan B”, a scenario that would require member towns to spend more than $100 million on repairs to the existing building without any financial assistance from the MSBA
 Demonstrates a strong and unified commitment that may compel new cities or towns to join the District to provide access for their students
 Represents the most affordable option for local taxpayers

To learn more about the project or to view a list of polling places in your town, please visit the Minuteman website at www.minuteman.org.

Very truly,
Edward A. Bouquillon
Lincoln