One of the silver linings of the global pandemic was a surge in voter turnout in the 2020 election, in part because of the increases in vote-by-mail options. Research shows that voters who receive a ballot in the mail participate at a much higher rate than voting in person. Of the 17,461 registered voters in Wellesley, 15,559 voted in the 2020 presidential election. That is a record and especially encouraging since our local elections have traditionally had only 20-30% voter participation.
On December 7, 2021, Wellesley voters will have a chance to vote in a special election on an issue that is central to the future of our Town. Namely, our continued investment in infrastructure for our children’s education. In the 10 years that Wellesley has been studying, debating, and planning how to replace the deteriorating Hardy, Hunnewell, and Upham schools, our neighbors in Newton have built three new schools. For anyone who has had the chance to tour Hardy or Hunnewell, there is no denying both schools are in desperate need of a YES vote. It’s time to vote YES and get shovels in the ground for our new schools.
A vote YES benefits all of Wellesley and signals the most important values of our community. A vote YES is an investment in the continued excellence of our schools. A vote YES provides the best resources to our very youngest children impacted by coronavirus lockdowns and closures. A vote YES enables our town and school leadership to turn their attention to other projects and opportunities.
If you are a registered voter, you hopefully received a postcard in the mail last week to request a ballot to vote early by mail. Sign the postcard and mail, scan/email, or drop it at Town Hall and you will receive a ballot in mid-November. You must return your ballot by December 7 via mail (add postage) or drop it at Town Hall. https://wellesleyma.gov/247/
If you have a college student coming home for Thanksgiving, help them to request their ballot and vote over Thanksgiving break.
If you are not registered to vote in Wellesley, you must register by November 17, 2021, either online or at Town Hall.
Alternatively, there is still the opportunity to vote in person on December 7, 2021. But as the saying goes, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today!” Get your ballot. Register to vote. Join me in voting YES for Hardy and Hunnewell.
Joe Hickson
298 Weston Road
TMM Precinct C
I feel like this would have been a much easier agenda to push through if residents weren’t being shown the most expensive options.
It is understood that we need upgrades, but It seems like there were more fiscally responsibly options than asking the average household for 20k over the term of the loans (not including additional tax increases over the next 25 years).
The site feasibility study (that tax payers funded) chose Upham and was ignored. Hardy is on a busy road and is highly marketable land that could have offset expenses and provide tax revenues in perpetuity.
They should have made the pill financially easier to swallow. Now we are in a situation where we are asking taxpayers to foot the bill for the most expensive options. There were ways to get to the same endgame of rebuilding two new schools that would have cost taxpayers significantly less money.
I can agree with you on Hunnewell, but Hardy is a nonstarter for me.
At least a dozen years ago, the residents of Wellesley were promised that the school department would reduce the number of elementary schools from 7 to 6. The reduction of one elementary school will save the tax payers over $500,000 per year.
It is obvious from the site feasibility studies that Upham is the correct location for the sixth school and not Hardy.
The Hardy area should be kept by the school department and used to house the school administration (which will soon need to leave the Middle School to accommodate upgrades there) and possibly a small pre-school. And, of course, the fields would be maintained for the Town of Wellesley. If we reduce to six elementary schools, we can’t have elementary students in the Upham district crossing Rt 9 at surface level to attend Sprague School, while there are plenty of surface walking routes for Hardy area students to attend Sprague. The choice for me is Easy, and I made it more than 12 years ago: Yes for Hunnewell, and No for Hardy. Then next year we can approve funds for Upham and close Hardy after Upham is renovated and expanded.
Simple.