Ltr to Ed: Downtown Dale Street is great for kids and businesses

Letter to the Editor:

As the business owner of the former Lord’s department store, anchored in Medfield center for 73 years, I am very concerned about the proposed abandonment of the Dale Street school from its downtown location, and a move nearly 1.5 miles away.

I know firsthand that having hundreds of 4th and 5th graders attending a Medfield school just steps from our downtown provides economic vitality and benefits to businesses at a time when they are struggling.

But it's not just the Main Street area that benefits from the presence of more children, it is the kids who benefit the most. The Dale Street school gives students easy access to the library, plus other downtown sites 10 months out of the year - not just on half days. Downtown traffic is sure to increase if the school moves further away, because the children will become more dependent on parent rides to the center of town instead of walking the short, safe distance that currently exists.

Over the years, I have personally watched hundreds of Dale Street children mature before my eyes, and that includes my own. Given initial freedom and some pocket change, they have the opportunity to learn independence, money management skills, and how to interact with adults in a safe environment both after school and on half days. Over the years, our staff got to know many of the children so well (and vice versa) that we hired them to work in the store when they became old enough. These jobs gave them the chance to earn some money while also strengthening their
work ethic, and the students also taught us a thing or two.

The removal of Dale Street school from the downtown area would be detrimental to both children and Medfield businesses, and ultimately, the town’s own bottom line. At a time when stores and food shops are just trying to hang on, and town and state revenues are dangerously low,why would we make it more difficult for hundreds of students to contribute to the vitality of our downtown?

I encourage Medfield business owners who need and appreciate our young Dale Street customers to tell our Board of Selectmen to keep the school in its downtown location.

Nancy Kelly Lavin
36 High Street, Medfield