It is my understanding that LEPA will be housed in the Smith complex for 2 years. How will that be done if what you say is true-that it cannot be done?
> On Jun 9, 2025, at 2:30 PM, Bob Kupperstein <[email protected]> wrote: > > I don't work at LEAP (and my kids are long-past graduating), so I don't know > what their transition plans is, but I do work in the middle school on a > regular basis and do not see any space where LEAP staff would be able to set > up and leave their resources out (or even store them in the school). The > hubs are full of school materials and resources - I can't imagine > 'overlaying' all of that with LEAP's every afternoon, without things being > lost, misappropriated, etc., including personal belongings and information. > > Can LEAP function in the school building? Sure, many schools do (I've had a > child in that situation in another town and had children in LEAP). It's not > that it couldn't be done, but it would not be nearly the high-quality, > enriching program that it is now. > > A lot of simple-sounding solutions seem to make sense, until diving into the > details. > > A lot of ideas have been proposed as ways to save tax money, but I think each > of us needs to decide whether we want to be a town that is solely focused on > minimizing taxes or a town that invests in itself and its people. Someday > we'll build a community center - as most cities/towns do - if we kick it down > the line it will only be more expensive, just like our school was. > > This is a chance to benefit our seniors, our recreation department, our > after-school program and the broader community. It may not be the best > possible solution in a perfect world, but we live in the real world. > > -Bob > > On Mon, Jun 9, 2025 at 12:20 PM ٍSarah Postlethwait <[email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> “LEAP can function in the school building on a temporary basis, but no one >> should think this is an optimal or even adequate solution.” >> >> I have a really hard time rationalizing why LEAP and Parks and Rec >> programming can’t utilize shared spaces inside the school building during >> after school hours- especially spaces like the multiple “hubs”, the learning >> commons, the two gymnasiums, and the cafeteria. (Map below of what I believe >> is the current school design) >> >> Is there truly not a single unused space inside the school building? As far >> as I understand it, the school was designed to accommodate 700+ students >> comfortably, and our enrollment is closer to 550. That discrepancy suggests >> there may be underutilized capacity. >> >> What is LEAP’s plan for the next two years? Why can it be done safely on a >> temporary basis, but it can’t be done long term? I have yet to hear any >> convincing argument about why it can’t be done, but I’m all ears if anyone >> has any to offer. >> >> For context, I have a background in education and have spent time in dozens >> of school buildings. The vast majority of them host their before and after >> school programming, as well as summer programming within the school itself, >> and none of them had a ~100 Million Dollar building at their disposal. >> >> Even locally, many schools safely and effectively offer programming before >> and after school as well as summer programs inside their school buildings, >> rather than off campus or in a community center. >> >> Some examples of towns I found after doing a quick search- I’m sure the full >> list is much more extensive: >> Weston >> Maynard >> Belmont >> Concord >> Waltham >> Arlington >> Burlington >> Woburn >> Dedham >> >> Given these considerations, I believe it’s time for our community to reflect >> on whether building a $27 Million community center is a WANT or a NEED. From >> my perspective, it is a want- and in today’s economically volatile climate, >> I believe we should be especially prudent with major expenditures that may >> not be truly essential. >> >> Sarah Postlethwait >> >> >> <IMG_5276.jpeg> >> >> >> >> >> On Mon, Jun 9, 2025 at 10:55 AM Bob Kupperstein <[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>> LEAP can function in the school building on a temporary basis, but no one >>> should think this is an optimal or even adequate solution. >>> >>> LEAP, in its own building, has dedicated space for educational, artistic, >>> recreational, tech and media activities. In the school building, they >>> would not 'own' any space - so anything they use on a daily basis would >>> have to be set up and stored away each day. This puts an unrealistic >>> burden on staff and creates logistical issues with the setup needing to >>> happen just as the school is emptying out and the clean-up/storage having >>> to happen during the pick-up hours, while the students have a range of >>> pickup times. The activities and programs that make LEAP such a great >>> after-school program would have to be scaled back. >>> >>> I can also imagine safety/security issues, with students in the school >>> building after most school staff have left, leaving large parts of the >>> building unmonitored. >>> >>> Thanks, >>> >>> -Bob >>> >>> On Mon, Jun 9, 2025 at 12:36 AM Karla Gravis <[email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>> ... >>> >>>> >>>> Leap can remain in our brand-new school building as it will be hosted >>>> there for the next two years anyway. >>>> >>>> Karla Gravis >>>> Weston Rd >>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ---------- Forwarded message --------- >>>>> From: Sara Lupkas <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> >>>>> Date: Sun, Jun 8, 2025 at 10:53 PM >>>>> Subject: Re: [LincolnTalk] Vote No to the Community Center, save yourself >>>>> a tax payment! >>>>> To: Listserv Listserv <[email protected] >>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> David Cuetos wrote: "After adjusting for structurally inflated budget >>>>> lines, our true operating budget is likely closer to $46–47M—implying a >>>>> reserve target of around $7M. That leaves as much as $18M in excess >>>>> reserves available." >>>>> What is meant by structurally inflated budget lines and how are you >>>>> calculating our "true operating budget"? Implying that citizens should >>>>> somehow equate not passing the Community Center Warrant article with the >>>>> town not needing to collect taxes in the fall seems a huge reach and not >>>>> very financially responsible for our town. And if our reserves are so >>>>> healthy, why is there even an argument against allocating an additional >>>>> amount to cover the Community Center shortfall? >>>>> Let's also not forget that if the Community Center somehow fails now, we >>>>> would still need to renovate Bemis and the LEAP pods, so this wouldn't >>>>> free up *that much* in the town budget. This is reminiscent of the first >>>>> school building project getting voted down and then a more expensive >>>>> project (with no state matching funds) finally passing years later. >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> Sara Lupkas >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>>> To post, send mail to [email protected] >>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>>> Browse the archives at >>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>>> >>>> -- >>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>> To post, send mail to [email protected] >>>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>>> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>> >>> -- >>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>> To post, send mail to [email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>> Change your subscription settings at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to [email protected]. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >
-- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to [email protected]. Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. Change your subscription settings at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln.
