LETTER: 'Great Reasons Not to Leave Minuteman School District'

Submitted to Patch by Deborah Peters, Sudbury:

A number of towns are considering the idea of leaving the Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School District primarily because of one reason: money. Sudbury is one of those towns. I know that people in the town have many questions about spending money for Minuteman because not many families in Sudbury take advantage of the opportunity that Minuteman provides. People are especially concerned that Minuteman is planning to build a new school and they are worried about what it will cost.

I think there are several good reasons for Sudbury NOT to withdraw from the Minuteman District. The most compelling reason is what I have learned from personal experience, as a parent, because my son is one of the students from Sudbury who goes to Minuteman High School. His choice has proven to be very successful. He has thrived at Minuteman. In my opinion, vocational-technical-education is a very nice solution for students like my son who want to experience their learning, not just sit in an academic classroom all day. The Town of Sudbury should make sure that students like my son continue to have access to that type of education.

My son came home one day during 8th grade at Curtis Middle School. With a smile on his face, he mentioned that he wanted to go to Minuteman. That day, Minuteman had come to talk to the 8th graders and my son felt it would be a better fit for him. My first reaction was confusion because I didn’t think much – or know much -- about vocational-technical high schools. I was afraid. To support our son, my husband and I visited Minuteman with him. We had open minds and learned what the school has to offer. Our decision to send him was based on a backup plan that he could go to Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School if Minuteman didn’t work.

Our son’s freshman year was a success. Minuteman not only gave him an opportunity to try different career areas of interest hands-on but also gave him a rigorous academic program that met the same Massachusetts academic requirements as those at all other Massachusetts high schools. My son was still getting a High School education without all of the stress of constant, purely-academic classwork.

Four years later, our son is not only enjoying his high school experience but he has been accepted to one of his 1st choice colleges and waiting to hear from others. He also has the benefits of learning about a specific program of interest, earning certifications to help with his future career, and working in the field that he likes. We are thrilled because we know that he made the right decision.

I look at the dilemma that Sudbury and other towns are facing with the idea of increased expense for a new school that not everyone in the town will use. I fully understand that. It is frustrating to think about paying for something that not everybody will use. The point that I wish to make is this type of schooling should continue to be made available to students from Sudbury. Staying in the District is a way to guarantee that access. It’s an investment in our children and our future.

More Sudbury students would probably benefit from attending Minuteman. The current building is more than 40 years old, it needs a massive overhaul, and everybody knows it. The state is willing to help pay for a new building. It appears that the cost of a new school will actually be less expensive to the town than renovations. The state is willing to help fund a new school. The state won’t help with renovations.

Rather than withdraw from the Minuteman District, Sudbury should do more to support Minuteman High School and promote the idea of vocational-technical education. More Sudbury students and their parents should consider the option. My husband, my son and I made that choice. We wouldn’t change a thing.

Would you like to submit a letter to the editor? Email charlene.arsenault@patch.com.

Photo via Minuteman High School