YES

Sara Seok ‘26

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

The middle school is a cornerstone of our community, providing quality education to students in the building that has been standing since the early days of 1971. However, as our district continues to evolve, it is essential to assess whether the current facilities are adequately meeting the needs of students and staff. This is why supporting the Middle School Feasibility Study is a crucial step toward ensuring that our students are receiving a leading education in a facility that sufficiently provides the enhancements and technologies that align with modern educational standards.

Supporting this study is imperative to explore improvements that align with modern educational demands, and it will help ensure that the school remains compliant with accessibility standards and provides a safe, inclusive learning environment for all students. Improving natural light will allow students to learn in a more comfortable environment and can improve attendance and mental health. Also, the students will be safer as new equipment is installed and safety hazards are removed with the implementation of improved electrical and HVAC systems. It is vital that students are in the best possible environment to enhance learning and improve overall experiences in school. As community backing is necessary for this initiative, the opinions of parents, educators, and students should advocate for the study by attending school board meetings, voicing their support or concerns, and staying informed on the Middle School Project page that can be found on the district website.

NO

Angelina Zhang ‘26 & Navya Nadkarni ‘25

OPINIONS EDITORS

Last June, the District Board of Directors initiated the Middle School Feasibility Study to explore the possibilities of renovating or replacing the middle school. While this project began due to the rise of community concerns about the condition of the middle school building, it is important to remember that the middle school is currently still functional and that the project will be extremely expensive.

Marotta/Main Architects, the District’s partner on this project, estimated that constructing a new middle school would cost approximately $120 million. Although it has been calculated that this money will not be entirely raised by taxes, there will still be an average increase of an additional $42 per year for each home over the next nine years. Additionally, the district currently has other remaining debts that have not been paid off. Waiting a few years until the district is debt-free could possibly allow the replacement of the middle school to be done with a lesser increase in taxes. Another consideration is that other technologies or strategies could be implemented to address the concerns of the community such as the lack of air quality and natural lighting with a far lower cost and a faster timeframe.

Overall, it is not necessary to push forward with the project at this moment, as it is not feasible for both homeowners and the district to financially support this project. Currently, the Middle School’s academic performance is substantially higher than other schools, so the district is able to wait before implementing the feasibility study, allowing for a more financially aware outcome.