Please Join Me in Voting Yes on April 2nd

My husband and I have lived in our home in Melrose since 1982. There are so many things about Melrose that we love. The four square mile walkability of the city as well as the volunteering sensibility of the residents in Melrose are very important to us. We can walk to nearly everything we need including two grocery stores, a hospital, a library, and a mall if necessary. There is great public transportation, easy access to Boston, free downtown parking, a vibrant Victorian downtown with great restaurants and specialty stores, a YMCA, and a thriving arts scene with a community orchestra and chorus. It is no wonder that Melrose has become a desirable zip code. On top of that, for several of us who own homes and have lived here for over 35 years, our houses are worth many times what we paid for them.

Our two children were educated in the Melrose Public School system. Melrose citizens whose children did not attend or are not now attending school in Melrose have no real concept or understanding of the recent history or needs of the Melrose Public School system. When our first child began kindergarten in the early 1990s we could see that there was no extra revenue for the schools. We elected to supplement our children’s education with many outside after school activities in the arts. We also became parent volunteers in the Melrose schools. We helped build a new playground, and participated in Regarding Art, Writer’s Week, and Melrose Drama. We remain involved with Melrose Drama over ten years after our last child graduated from MHS because we believe our students and schools need this extra support. To this end we have voted in favor of every override attempt in Melrose.

A strong public education system benefits all in the community – the students, the educators, and the residents, whether they have school age children or not. It is certainly not selfish for parents to want the best schools for their children.

These are the facts: Over the past few years many new families with students have moved to Melrose. Business tax revenues are low due to the fact that there is little industry in Melrose, and residential taxes are not exorbitant. The last override passed way back in 1992. Melrose’s per pupil expenditure is one of the lowest in the state. Volunteers such as those who run the elementary school libraries are necessary in order for Melrose schools to function. Melrose’s teacher salaries are not competitive with those of many comparable communities.

As a professional reference librarian, I have worked in many local libraries including Andover, Melrose, Wakefield, and currently in Lexington and Winchester. I know how important a public library is to all members of the community. If the Melrose Public Library’s hours of operation are cut we risk losing State accreditation, and with it the renovation funds that we are third in line for from the State. If the override passes, there will be money available to help fund our portion of the cost of the library renovation.

For those comparing our fiscal situation to that of Reading or Winchester, Reading passed a $4.15 million override in 2018, and Winchester just passed a $10 million dollar override on March 26th. I say you get what you pay for and it is high time we put our money where our mouth is and pay for our schools and all the things we love about Melrose. For those who support education, there is only one right answer. Please join this senior citizen in voting YES on April 2nd.

Elaine LeGendre