RESULTS: Brookline voters approve Driscoll override
December 10, 2019
The new Driscoll School will be funded with a debt exclusion override, following Tuesday’s special town election.
On Tuesday, 6,724 Brookline voters (about 17.7 percent of registered voters) took to the polls to cast their ballots, with 59 percent voting in favor of the override and 41 percent opposed.
Proposition 2½ limits a municipality’s authority to increase property taxes to 2.5 percent over last year’s taxes, unless voters approve an override. In this case, the extra tax revenue will go toward reconstructing Driscoll.
The existing school is past its useful life and “frankly, is well below what anyone would expect Brookline standards would be for its school buildings,” Interim Superintendent Ben Lummis told the Select Board back in October.
A new four-section Driscoll will increase the district enrollment capacity by 150-200 students, Lummis said at the time.
In a press release from the “yes” campaign following the vote, Build Brookline’s Future co-chair and School Committee member David Pearlman said, “This victory serves as a reaffirmation of our town’s commitment to excellence in public education. It marks a significant step toward alleviating our overcrowding, and it provides our children with 21st century facilities to learn, create, discover, and play.”
Scott Ananian, Driscoll parent and campaign strategist, said in the press release, “Our work is not yet done — we chose the name Build Brookline’s Future because we are committed to working on behalf of ALL of our schools. Driscoll will be the next step, but I look forward to continuing this work on Pierce, South Brookline, and our other school projects and budgets, until our all students’ needs are addressed.”
The new Driscoll School will be funded with a debt exclusion override, following Tuesday’s special town election.
On Tuesday, 6,724 Brookline voters (about 17.7 percent of registered voters) took to the polls to cast their ballots, with 59 percent voting in favor of the override and 41 percent opposed.
Proposition 2½ limits a municipality’s authority to increase property taxes to 2.5 percent over last year’s taxes, unless voters approve an override. In this case, the extra tax revenue will go toward reconstructing Driscoll.
The existing school is past its useful life and “frankly, is well below what anyone would expect Brookline standards would be for its school buildings,” Interim Superintendent Ben Lummis told the Select Board back in October.
A new four-section Driscoll will increase the district enrollment capacity by 150-200 students, Lummis said at the time.
In a press release from the “yes” campaign following the vote, Build Brookline’s Future co-chair and School Committee member David Pearlman said, “This victory serves as a reaffirmation of our town’s commitment to excellence in public education. It marks a significant step toward alleviating our overcrowding, and it provides our children with 21st century facilities to learn, create, discover, and play.”
Scott Ananian, Driscoll parent and campaign strategist, said in the press release, “Our work is not yet done — we chose the name Build Brookline’s Future because we are committed to working on behalf of ALL of our schools. Driscoll will be the next step, but I look forward to continuing this work on Pierce, South Brookline, and our other school projects and budgets, until our all students’ needs are addressed.”
Guest Column: Educator-leaders are voting yes on Driscoll
December 6, 2019
As Driscoll neighbors, educators and long-time contributors to the community, we urge you to vote yes on Tuesday, Dec. 10, to fund the reconstruction of Driscoll School.
We both have spent many, many years in the current Driscoll — Mary, as a kindergarten teacher at Driscoll for nearly 20 years, and Bob, as the parent of two Driscoll students. As educators (Bob was also the headmaster of Brookline High School for 19 years) who are very familiar with the Driscoll building, we strongly support the proposed plan to build a new Driscoll.
We understand that there are many people in the community who have fond memories of Driscoll and don’t want to see it torn down. We also have fond memories, but fond memories should not distract us from the reality of the current Driscoll building. It is not able to meet the needs of our children, or community, in the 21st century.
Further, renovating Driscoll without expanding is not compatible with the reality of present overcrowding in Brookline schools. We can’t just renovate. We must expand as well. A renovated and expanded Driscoll was studied thoroughly in an extensive public process by the Driscoll School Building Committee, which includes the current Driscoll principal, and it was found to have multiple problems, three of which are most critical to educational quality.
First, renovation and expansion significantly reduces the per-child open space (from the current 120 square feet per child to 102), while a new building increases open space (from the current 120 square feet per child to 129). Building new increases the total area of open space by 24,500 square feet! Open space is vital to children’s health and well-being -- and is in short supply in North Brookline. Building new, with more open and green space, and incorporating Brookline’s pioneering standards for fossil-free energy, is a benefit for the entire community.
Second, renovation and expansion will require students to be used elsewhere, whereas building new, on what is the current playground, allows them all to stay on-site. Children and families will continue to walk to their local school — maintaining an intact community. Having experienced construction at Brookline High, both in the late ’90s and again today, Bob knows that kids and teachers are resilient. Short-term inconvenience, long-term benefits. The disruption will be far greater if the children cannot remain at their school for several years.
Third, renovation and expansion was found to be slightly more expensive than building new. In an era of continuing cost pressures on the town budget, building new is a more cost-efficient way to achieve our ultimate goal: an environment in which Brookline students and educators can thrive.
Large construction projects cause angst in a community, and lots of discussion. That’s inherent in our system of democratic governance. It’s a good thing, perhaps less efficient but ultimately more effective. Here in Brookline, we have a strong track record of getting projects done on time and on budget. In Bob’s current role as a professor of educational leadership at BU, he visits many schools, including many newly constructed schools, in places like Chelsea, Lynn, Needham, Burlington, and Newton. All of the new schools are beautiful, ready for the 21st century, and embraced enthusiastically by their communities.
We are confident that in a few years, when the New Driscoll School is up and running, it will be celebrated by all as the first very successful project of the comprehensive plan to solve townwide overcrowding that was reaffirmed by the School Committee this past September.
Town Meeting has already voted overwhelmingly — 203 to 13 — to support a new Driscoll School and now the voters must also approve. We urge you to join us in voting yes on Dec. 10.
Mary McConnell, Williston Road, former Driscoll kindergarten teacher
Robert Weintraub, Columbia Street, former BHS headmaster
As Driscoll neighbors, educators and long-time contributors to the community, we urge you to vote yes on Tuesday, Dec. 10, to fund the reconstruction of Driscoll School.
We both have spent many, many years in the current Driscoll — Mary, as a kindergarten teacher at Driscoll for nearly 20 years, and Bob, as the parent of two Driscoll students. As educators (Bob was also the headmaster of Brookline High School for 19 years) who are very familiar with the Driscoll building, we strongly support the proposed plan to build a new Driscoll.
We understand that there are many people in the community who have fond memories of Driscoll and don’t want to see it torn down. We also have fond memories, but fond memories should not distract us from the reality of the current Driscoll building. It is not able to meet the needs of our children, or community, in the 21st century.
Further, renovating Driscoll without expanding is not compatible with the reality of present overcrowding in Brookline schools. We can’t just renovate. We must expand as well. A renovated and expanded Driscoll was studied thoroughly in an extensive public process by the Driscoll School Building Committee, which includes the current Driscoll principal, and it was found to have multiple problems, three of which are most critical to educational quality.
First, renovation and expansion significantly reduces the per-child open space (from the current 120 square feet per child to 102), while a new building increases open space (from the current 120 square feet per child to 129). Building new increases the total area of open space by 24,500 square feet! Open space is vital to children’s health and well-being -- and is in short supply in North Brookline. Building new, with more open and green space, and incorporating Brookline’s pioneering standards for fossil-free energy, is a benefit for the entire community.
Second, renovation and expansion will require students to be used elsewhere, whereas building new, on what is the current playground, allows them all to stay on-site. Children and families will continue to walk to their local school — maintaining an intact community. Having experienced construction at Brookline High, both in the late ’90s and again today, Bob knows that kids and teachers are resilient. Short-term inconvenience, long-term benefits. The disruption will be far greater if the children cannot remain at their school for several years.
Third, renovation and expansion was found to be slightly more expensive than building new. In an era of continuing cost pressures on the town budget, building new is a more cost-efficient way to achieve our ultimate goal: an environment in which Brookline students and educators can thrive.
Large construction projects cause angst in a community, and lots of discussion. That’s inherent in our system of democratic governance. It’s a good thing, perhaps less efficient but ultimately more effective. Here in Brookline, we have a strong track record of getting projects done on time and on budget. In Bob’s current role as a professor of educational leadership at BU, he visits many schools, including many newly constructed schools, in places like Chelsea, Lynn, Needham, Burlington, and Newton. All of the new schools are beautiful, ready for the 21st century, and embraced enthusiastically by their communities.
We are confident that in a few years, when the New Driscoll School is up and running, it will be celebrated by all as the first very successful project of the comprehensive plan to solve townwide overcrowding that was reaffirmed by the School Committee this past September.
Town Meeting has already voted overwhelmingly — 203 to 13 — to support a new Driscoll School and now the voters must also approve. We urge you to join us in voting yes on Dec. 10.
Mary McConnell, Williston Road, former Driscoll kindergarten teacher
Robert Weintraub, Columbia Street, former BHS headmaster
Letter to the Editor: Teachers support Driscoll project
As Brookline teachers, we know firsthand how the state of the Driscoll building is impacting teaching and student learning. We have experienced how overcrowding in the classrooms and common spaces has made it harder for children to have the educational experience that we in Brookline expect for our students.
The failure to provide Driscoll students with an appropriate educational environment is evidenced daily in myriad ways: a lunchroom so small that students eat lunch in midmorning, instruction occurring in the hallways, parts of the building so cold that students have to wear their coats inside. Trust us that these complaints aren’t those of “privileged parents” — they are real detriments to learning that belie inequitable learning conditions.
The current building is badly in need of work. The project team dedicated significant time and effort working with the school and faculty to establish what kinds of spaces we need at Driscoll. The proposed new school building is the result of years of planning and public process. While living through construction of a new building will not be easy, we know it is the best way to get this project done as quickly as possible. The faculty and school leaders will work closely with the project team to make sure this transition is undertaken safely, just like at the high school.
As educators, we teach our students every day about the importance of community and doing what we can do to help others. This vote isn’t just about Driscoll — building a school with additional capacity will bring much-needed relief to the overcrowding that has plagued our schools for years. The ripple effect will help families and educators townwide. We owe it to each other to move forward with this plan now, before it slips through our fingers.
Please join us in voting yes on Dec. 10. It’s the right way forward for our students, our school community, and our town.
Ben Fishkin, Pierce Special Education teacher and former Driscoll kindergarten teacher
Angela Harvey, Driscoll teacher, 2nd grade
Jesse Kirdahy, Driscoll Educational Technology Specialist and former Driscoll 5th grade teacher
Anne Reid, Driscoll Librarian
Lynda Roseman, Former Driscoll BEEP paraprofessional
Mackenzie Snow, Driscoll teacher, 1st grade
Erica Sullivan, Driscoll teacher, 2nd grade
The failure to provide Driscoll students with an appropriate educational environment is evidenced daily in myriad ways: a lunchroom so small that students eat lunch in midmorning, instruction occurring in the hallways, parts of the building so cold that students have to wear their coats inside. Trust us that these complaints aren’t those of “privileged parents” — they are real detriments to learning that belie inequitable learning conditions.
The current building is badly in need of work. The project team dedicated significant time and effort working with the school and faculty to establish what kinds of spaces we need at Driscoll. The proposed new school building is the result of years of planning and public process. While living through construction of a new building will not be easy, we know it is the best way to get this project done as quickly as possible. The faculty and school leaders will work closely with the project team to make sure this transition is undertaken safely, just like at the high school.
As educators, we teach our students every day about the importance of community and doing what we can do to help others. This vote isn’t just about Driscoll — building a school with additional capacity will bring much-needed relief to the overcrowding that has plagued our schools for years. The ripple effect will help families and educators townwide. We owe it to each other to move forward with this plan now, before it slips through our fingers.
Please join us in voting yes on Dec. 10. It’s the right way forward for our students, our school community, and our town.
Ben Fishkin, Pierce Special Education teacher and former Driscoll kindergarten teacher
Angela Harvey, Driscoll teacher, 2nd grade
Jesse Kirdahy, Driscoll Educational Technology Specialist and former Driscoll 5th grade teacher
Anne Reid, Driscoll Librarian
Lynda Roseman, Former Driscoll BEEP paraprofessional
Mackenzie Snow, Driscoll teacher, 1st grade
Erica Sullivan, Driscoll teacher, 2nd grade
Letter to the Editor: Yes, for Brookline’s backyard
As members of the Driscoll School Building Committee, we urge you to vote yes on Tuesday, Dec. 10, to fund the reconstruction of Driscoll School. Voting no leaves Driscoll as-is — overcrowded, with no improvements to student experience, but millions to be spent on emergency repairs — for many years to come.
There are many reasons to vote yes, no matter where you live in town.
One: New Driscoll is part of a comprehensive plan. After the May override failed, the School Committee considered eight possible plans to solve townwide overcrowding and found that every feasible plan includes expanding Driscoll. Therefore, in Sept. 2019, the School Committee recommended going ahead with New Driscoll now.
Two: New Driscoll meaningfully helps solve overcrowding. Old Driscoll currently houses 600 students in a building truly sized for closer to 450. New Driscoll will accommodate 800 students, an increase of 200 over current enrollment and even more over current true capacity. This is why New Driscoll is a key part of the Town-wide comprehensive capacity plan, unanimously approved by the School Committee. Importantly, Driscoll is ready for its next phase and is the only school building project that will provide relief from overcrowding within the next five years.
Three: Building new is cheaper than renovating and expanding. The Driscoll Building Committee considered renovation-only options. “The resulting structure would still be deficient with undersized classrooms, cafeteria, and multi-purpose spaces, inadequate administrative area, and safety deficiencies.” A renovation option with minimally sufficient expansion was also considered, but was estimated, including the cost of swing space, to exceed the cost of the recommended New Driscoll construction by $8 million.
Four: New Driscoll is green. The new building is designed for fossil-fuel-free operation and provides for a 34% increase in play/open space on site — for the enjoyment of students and the community as a whole.
Five: New Driscoll’s projected cost is reasonable and appropriate for a pre-K-8 school. As designed, it is less expensive per student, per square foot than the Florida Ruffin Ridley School or what the Baldwin School would have cost.
There is no realistic option to do nothing at Driscoll. It will require a major capital investment no matter what. Saying no at the voting booth means saying yes to cost increases down the road, and kids and teachers in substandard learning conditions for more school years.
Please vote yes on Dec. 10.
David Lescohier, Town Meeting Member, Precinct 11, Advisory Committee member, and Driscoll School Building Committee member
Dan Deutch, Driscoll parent, member of Driscoll Building Committee and Driscoll School Site Council
There are many reasons to vote yes, no matter where you live in town.
One: New Driscoll is part of a comprehensive plan. After the May override failed, the School Committee considered eight possible plans to solve townwide overcrowding and found that every feasible plan includes expanding Driscoll. Therefore, in Sept. 2019, the School Committee recommended going ahead with New Driscoll now.
Two: New Driscoll meaningfully helps solve overcrowding. Old Driscoll currently houses 600 students in a building truly sized for closer to 450. New Driscoll will accommodate 800 students, an increase of 200 over current enrollment and even more over current true capacity. This is why New Driscoll is a key part of the Town-wide comprehensive capacity plan, unanimously approved by the School Committee. Importantly, Driscoll is ready for its next phase and is the only school building project that will provide relief from overcrowding within the next five years.
Three: Building new is cheaper than renovating and expanding. The Driscoll Building Committee considered renovation-only options. “The resulting structure would still be deficient with undersized classrooms, cafeteria, and multi-purpose spaces, inadequate administrative area, and safety deficiencies.” A renovation option with minimally sufficient expansion was also considered, but was estimated, including the cost of swing space, to exceed the cost of the recommended New Driscoll construction by $8 million.
Four: New Driscoll is green. The new building is designed for fossil-fuel-free operation and provides for a 34% increase in play/open space on site — for the enjoyment of students and the community as a whole.
Five: New Driscoll’s projected cost is reasonable and appropriate for a pre-K-8 school. As designed, it is less expensive per student, per square foot than the Florida Ruffin Ridley School or what the Baldwin School would have cost.
There is no realistic option to do nothing at Driscoll. It will require a major capital investment no matter what. Saying no at the voting booth means saying yes to cost increases down the road, and kids and teachers in substandard learning conditions for more school years.
Please vote yes on Dec. 10.
David Lescohier, Town Meeting Member, Precinct 11, Advisory Committee member, and Driscoll School Building Committee member
Dan Deutch, Driscoll parent, member of Driscoll Building Committee and Driscoll School Site Council
Letter to the Editor: Vote yes to build Brookline’s future
December 7, 2019
I am a Lincoln School parent, and I am voting yes on Dec. 10 to build Brookline’s future.
Driscoll School’s future is our future. Driscoll School is in a terrible state with the ceiling literally falling down in pieces on children, the nurse working in the hallway and special education instruction taking place in the hallways. Their HVAC system needs extensive repairs, among many more issues. We need to show up to the polls on Dec. 10 and we need to vote yes to show our support for Brookline and its residents.
If this doesn’t pass, there will be a snowball effect that will affect all of us in every reach of the Brookline Community. If it fails, the town might think the residents don’t care about such issues and not invest in other proposed school renovations, or there could be town-wide redistricting as more are anticipated to enter the school system but with current buildings as they are, our schools cannot smoothly accommodate the influx. That is why this ballot question is about Building Brookline’s Future and that is why you should vote yes on Dec. 10.
The proposed project will increase property tax bills by 3.5 percent of the current value, which is reasonable for the amount of work that needs to be done. Please go to http://buildbrooklinesfuture.org to learn more and I’ll see you at the polls Dec. 10.
Valerie Haines
Lincoln School parent
I am a Lincoln School parent, and I am voting yes on Dec. 10 to build Brookline’s future.
Driscoll School’s future is our future. Driscoll School is in a terrible state with the ceiling literally falling down in pieces on children, the nurse working in the hallway and special education instruction taking place in the hallways. Their HVAC system needs extensive repairs, among many more issues. We need to show up to the polls on Dec. 10 and we need to vote yes to show our support for Brookline and its residents.
If this doesn’t pass, there will be a snowball effect that will affect all of us in every reach of the Brookline Community. If it fails, the town might think the residents don’t care about such issues and not invest in other proposed school renovations, or there could be town-wide redistricting as more are anticipated to enter the school system but with current buildings as they are, our schools cannot smoothly accommodate the influx. That is why this ballot question is about Building Brookline’s Future and that is why you should vote yes on Dec. 10.
The proposed project will increase property tax bills by 3.5 percent of the current value, which is reasonable for the amount of work that needs to be done. Please go to http://buildbrooklinesfuture.org to learn more and I’ll see you at the polls Dec. 10.
Valerie Haines
Lincoln School parent
Letter to the Editor: Supporting Build Brookline’s Future
December 7, 2019
As a new mother in the Brookline School District, I was disappointed and shocked, to say the least, when the budget override that would have provided a new school (with functioning heat and enough space for enrolled students now and in the future) in the Driscoll neighborhood did not pass. My husband and I have lived in Brookline for 15 years, before we were married and before we had children. It has felt like home from the day we moved here and, like so many Brookline residents, its schools made us excited about staying with our growing family. So when my son was at BEEP preschool in the Driscoll building last year and had to wear his winter coat inside because the heat went out in his classroom (and I was told this happened all the time because of the 110-year-old building). I was shocked. It’s not what I expected from Brookline. And neither was voting down a fix. I am hoping this is rectified at the new vote on Dec. 10.
I wonder if voters in Brookline who are excited about the possibility of the budget override for Driscoll being back up for a vote know who we have to thank for this effort. The group, Build Brookline’s Future, have spearheaded a strong and efficient effort on behalf of the elementary and middle school children in Brookline. This incredible group is a wonderful subset of Brookline residents. Some are parents, not just from the Driscoll community, but also the other schools in Brookline. But they are not all parents of young children because that’s not required to see why this work is important. Some are residents with lots of experience in local politics and some are brand new to local government and advocacy. Their work reflects their diverse experience as they have quickly rallied support from all parts of town and all types of voters.
So despite the frustration that bureaucracy has left my kids without a school whose HVAC system works, without enough space for the children that rely on it to contain them while they are learning, and lacking in a myriad of other important ways, I am inspired by the group who won’t give up this fight. And I am so grateful that this is not just a Driscoll effort. They are committed to a new 4 section Driscoll school as just one step in an overhaul of the building crisis in the Brookline School District. I am confident that they won’t stop after this first part of the plan is realized. We need people like this group to help us make sense of the difficult process a town faces when there is not enough space for the kids enrolled in their schools. I hope the town will get behind them, our kids, and grandkids, and neighbor’s kids and Brookline’s reputation depend on it.
Jocelyn Guggenheim
As a new mother in the Brookline School District, I was disappointed and shocked, to say the least, when the budget override that would have provided a new school (with functioning heat and enough space for enrolled students now and in the future) in the Driscoll neighborhood did not pass. My husband and I have lived in Brookline for 15 years, before we were married and before we had children. It has felt like home from the day we moved here and, like so many Brookline residents, its schools made us excited about staying with our growing family. So when my son was at BEEP preschool in the Driscoll building last year and had to wear his winter coat inside because the heat went out in his classroom (and I was told this happened all the time because of the 110-year-old building). I was shocked. It’s not what I expected from Brookline. And neither was voting down a fix. I am hoping this is rectified at the new vote on Dec. 10.
I wonder if voters in Brookline who are excited about the possibility of the budget override for Driscoll being back up for a vote know who we have to thank for this effort. The group, Build Brookline’s Future, have spearheaded a strong and efficient effort on behalf of the elementary and middle school children in Brookline. This incredible group is a wonderful subset of Brookline residents. Some are parents, not just from the Driscoll community, but also the other schools in Brookline. But they are not all parents of young children because that’s not required to see why this work is important. Some are residents with lots of experience in local politics and some are brand new to local government and advocacy. Their work reflects their diverse experience as they have quickly rallied support from all parts of town and all types of voters.
So despite the frustration that bureaucracy has left my kids without a school whose HVAC system works, without enough space for the children that rely on it to contain them while they are learning, and lacking in a myriad of other important ways, I am inspired by the group who won’t give up this fight. And I am so grateful that this is not just a Driscoll effort. They are committed to a new 4 section Driscoll school as just one step in an overhaul of the building crisis in the Brookline School District. I am confident that they won’t stop after this first part of the plan is realized. We need people like this group to help us make sense of the difficult process a town faces when there is not enough space for the kids enrolled in their schools. I hope the town will get behind them, our kids, and grandkids, and neighbor’s kids and Brookline’s reputation depend on it.
Jocelyn Guggenheim
Investment in schools a ‘pay now or pay later’ proposition
November 30, 2019
As parents of young children in Brookline, we are dismayed by the capacity limitations being felt across our public school system. Investment in our schools is imperative to ensure that the current and future generations of Brookline children have access to the high-quality education that has been our town’s calling card for decades.
We are writing to express our support for the proposed renovations at Driscoll school. Although our children attend Lawrence, we strongly believe that the community must come together to support and advance investments in capacity across our entire school system. Investments in our schools is a “pay now or pay later” proposition.
Let’s embrace the challenges facing our schools and make the required investments now to return our school system to solid footing. Vote yes for our schools on Dec. 10!
Jon and Jen Kerner
Perry Street
As parents of young children in Brookline, we are dismayed by the capacity limitations being felt across our public school system. Investment in our schools is imperative to ensure that the current and future generations of Brookline children have access to the high-quality education that has been our town’s calling card for decades.
We are writing to express our support for the proposed renovations at Driscoll school. Although our children attend Lawrence, we strongly believe that the community must come together to support and advance investments in capacity across our entire school system. Investments in our schools is a “pay now or pay later” proposition.
Let’s embrace the challenges facing our schools and make the required investments now to return our school system to solid footing. Vote yes for our schools on Dec. 10!
Jon and Jen Kerner
Perry Street
Letter to the Editor: We owe Driscoll Elementary School project a ‘yes’
November 23, 2019
Last May, a proposal to rebuild the Driscoll Elementary School was linked to a project to demolish the Baldwin School and build a new ninth elementary school in its place.
To the shock of many who follow Brookline politics, the ballot question failed.
Those of us who campaigned against it clearly stated that our issue was Baldwin and not Driscoll. We opposed Baldwin for many reasons — none of which apply to Driscoll.
From the ashes of May emerged a grassroots campaign to revive Driscoll. The new ballot question — Driscoll alone — is Tuesday, Dec. 10.
We are hoping for an unseasonably sunny day. But even if winter makes an early descent, I urge you to go out to the polls and vote “yes” in what is likely to be a very low turnout affair. What that means is that your vote doesn’t just matter — it really, really matters. As does your ability to influence your friends and neighbors — let them know why to vote “yes” too.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. There will be opportunity for absentee and early voting.
Driscoll School is broken. It is one of the two worst in our system — the other being Pierce. Driscoll has myriad problems that would cost tens of millions to fix. But it would be lipstick on a pig. The old building has outlived its usefulness.
The project would cost $119 million and raise property taxes about 3.5% for the 25-year life of the bond. Taxes and rents in this town are very high. There is legitimate unrest. But Driscoll deserves a pass in that conversation. It is a necessary project. By voting yes, we affirm a core mission as a town — ensuring that schoolchildren are not shortchanged by attending a substandard school.
Brookline has a strong tradition of supporting worthy school projects. Driscoll hit a roadblock last May. This election is a corrective. All of us — the “yes” and “no” from last May — owe this project a “yes.” Please join me in making that happen.
Richard Nangle, Town Meeting Member Precinct 15
Hammond Street
Last May, a proposal to rebuild the Driscoll Elementary School was linked to a project to demolish the Baldwin School and build a new ninth elementary school in its place.
To the shock of many who follow Brookline politics, the ballot question failed.
Those of us who campaigned against it clearly stated that our issue was Baldwin and not Driscoll. We opposed Baldwin for many reasons — none of which apply to Driscoll.
From the ashes of May emerged a grassroots campaign to revive Driscoll. The new ballot question — Driscoll alone — is Tuesday, Dec. 10.
We are hoping for an unseasonably sunny day. But even if winter makes an early descent, I urge you to go out to the polls and vote “yes” in what is likely to be a very low turnout affair. What that means is that your vote doesn’t just matter — it really, really matters. As does your ability to influence your friends and neighbors — let them know why to vote “yes” too.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. There will be opportunity for absentee and early voting.
Driscoll School is broken. It is one of the two worst in our system — the other being Pierce. Driscoll has myriad problems that would cost tens of millions to fix. But it would be lipstick on a pig. The old building has outlived its usefulness.
The project would cost $119 million and raise property taxes about 3.5% for the 25-year life of the bond. Taxes and rents in this town are very high. There is legitimate unrest. But Driscoll deserves a pass in that conversation. It is a necessary project. By voting yes, we affirm a core mission as a town — ensuring that schoolchildren are not shortchanged by attending a substandard school.
Brookline has a strong tradition of supporting worthy school projects. Driscoll hit a roadblock last May. This election is a corrective. All of us — the “yes” and “no” from last May — owe this project a “yes.” Please join me in making that happen.
Richard Nangle, Town Meeting Member Precinct 15
Hammond Street
Driscoll in the spotlight on first night of Brookline special Town Meeting
Brookline’s Driscoll School took center stage on the first night of the 2019 fall special Town Meeting, with the town voting to spend $115.3 million on the new four-section school.
In fact, Brookline schools were in the spotlight before the meeting even began: As Town Meeting members arrived, more than one hundred Brookline educators lined the halls at Brookline High School with signs that called on the town to “pay its bills” and approve a new contract.
But the big debate of the evening focused on the Driscoll project, with Article 4 asking to appropriate funds to build a new four-section school (Brookline will vote on a Driscoll override on Dec. 10).
A four-section Driscoll has long been part of the plan to address overcrowding in Brookline’s K-8 schools, despite the plan going through many iterations, said Select Board member Heather Hamilton.
Building a new Driscoll won’t solve all of Brookline’s overcrowding issues, but it is a critical and timely step in the right direction, said School Committee member David Pearlman.
Overcrowding is already a pervasive issue at the school. Driscoll parent Nicholas Gertler went into the school recently to drop off a coat for his daughter, he told Town Meeting. Walking down the hallway, he passed a student sitting in the hallway with a teacher, clearly struggling through a reading assignment. What felt like a private moment was made public with space shortages at the existing Driscoll School, Gertler said.
“It would be wonderful to have a shiny new school with all the right rooms, but I think this about something much more fundamental, which is just about the dignity of the students,” he said.
But there was some debate over how large a budget the town should allocate for Driscoll.
C. Scott Ananian, who has long championed the Driscoll project, proposed $115.3 million. “I believe that ... we could get a project built for $115.3, which does not sacrifice the educational goals of the town or change the design from what Town Meeting approved in December,” he said.
Harry Friedman, who petitioned to make it $98 million, told Town Meeting there are some parts of the proposed Driscoll design that are expensive and have no educational value. Features like the atrium and parking garage drive up the cost and add to the tax burden, he said. And, if Brookline overspends on Driscoll, it could make it difficult to convince taxpayers to fund future projects down the line, he said.
The Advisory Committee and Select Board favored a middle-ground approach, proposing that the town appropriate $108.8 million for the project.
It’s straight out of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” Advisory Committee member John VanScoyoc said — one proposal was too high, one was too low, but theirs was just right.
However, Interim Superintendent Ben Lummis called the lower budget proposals “Goldilocks plays dumb.” Lowering the budget will require redesigning some features and will extend the timeline, driving up costs in the long term, he said.
The $115.3 million that passed was already lowered from the $119 million the Select Board initially considered.
“That’s still less expensive per student and per square foot than the Coolidge Corner School was. It’s still less expensive per student and per square foot than Baldwin would have been,” Heath School parent David Gacioch said.
And dropping the budget more isn’t cutting fat from the Driscoll project — it’s cutting muscle and bone, Gacioch said. Besides, he added, the property tax savings would be negligible; dropping the budget to $108.8 million would save less than $1 a month on the median condo tax bill and less than $2 a month on the median single-family home tax bill.
The main motion to appropriate a $115.3 million budget passed overwhelmingly, with 203 in favor and 13 opposed.
In fact, Brookline schools were in the spotlight before the meeting even began: As Town Meeting members arrived, more than one hundred Brookline educators lined the halls at Brookline High School with signs that called on the town to “pay its bills” and approve a new contract.
But the big debate of the evening focused on the Driscoll project, with Article 4 asking to appropriate funds to build a new four-section school (Brookline will vote on a Driscoll override on Dec. 10).
A four-section Driscoll has long been part of the plan to address overcrowding in Brookline’s K-8 schools, despite the plan going through many iterations, said Select Board member Heather Hamilton.
Building a new Driscoll won’t solve all of Brookline’s overcrowding issues, but it is a critical and timely step in the right direction, said School Committee member David Pearlman.
Overcrowding is already a pervasive issue at the school. Driscoll parent Nicholas Gertler went into the school recently to drop off a coat for his daughter, he told Town Meeting. Walking down the hallway, he passed a student sitting in the hallway with a teacher, clearly struggling through a reading assignment. What felt like a private moment was made public with space shortages at the existing Driscoll School, Gertler said.
“It would be wonderful to have a shiny new school with all the right rooms, but I think this about something much more fundamental, which is just about the dignity of the students,” he said.
But there was some debate over how large a budget the town should allocate for Driscoll.
C. Scott Ananian, who has long championed the Driscoll project, proposed $115.3 million. “I believe that ... we could get a project built for $115.3, which does not sacrifice the educational goals of the town or change the design from what Town Meeting approved in December,” he said.
Harry Friedman, who petitioned to make it $98 million, told Town Meeting there are some parts of the proposed Driscoll design that are expensive and have no educational value. Features like the atrium and parking garage drive up the cost and add to the tax burden, he said. And, if Brookline overspends on Driscoll, it could make it difficult to convince taxpayers to fund future projects down the line, he said.
The Advisory Committee and Select Board favored a middle-ground approach, proposing that the town appropriate $108.8 million for the project.
It’s straight out of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” Advisory Committee member John VanScoyoc said — one proposal was too high, one was too low, but theirs was just right.
However, Interim Superintendent Ben Lummis called the lower budget proposals “Goldilocks plays dumb.” Lowering the budget will require redesigning some features and will extend the timeline, driving up costs in the long term, he said.
The $115.3 million that passed was already lowered from the $119 million the Select Board initially considered.
“That’s still less expensive per student and per square foot than the Coolidge Corner School was. It’s still less expensive per student and per square foot than Baldwin would have been,” Heath School parent David Gacioch said.
And dropping the budget more isn’t cutting fat from the Driscoll project — it’s cutting muscle and bone, Gacioch said. Besides, he added, the property tax savings would be negligible; dropping the budget to $108.8 million would save less than $1 a month on the median condo tax bill and less than $2 a month on the median single-family home tax bill.
The main motion to appropriate a $115.3 million budget passed overwhelmingly, with 203 in favor and 13 opposed.
Letter to the Editor: Let’s build Brookline’s future!
November 16, 2019
It is time now indeed, dear friends one and all,
To do what we should have been doing all fall.
We need more space in our schools, that no one does doubt,
So how come we just keep on going without?
Driscoll is ready, for Driscoll it’s time,
To keep putting it off is really a crime!
The building is old and falling right down,
Just walk by and see it and surely you’ll frown.
The windows are cracking, the furnace is broken,
Oh when, oh when will we all be awoken?
Our kids deserve better, and our teachers do, too,
Oh my, oh my just what shall we do?
There is only one answer that really makes sense,
And we mustn’t just sit here on top of the fence!
In truth we all know the one right conclusion,
It’s time now to solve this with one debt exclusion!
Show your support, unbridle your passion,
Because building this school is really in fashion!
Let’s spread the word wide and then all remember
To come out and vote on the 10th of December!
buildbrooklinesfuture.org is the name of the site
And once you start reading you’ll stay up all night!
It’s got so many details and all kinds of facts,
The team for this plan has gone to the max!
Ready your lawn signs and ready your voice,
To spread the word wide so we all can rejoice!
Spread the word in your precinct, and then at your school,
Tell them that getting this passed will be cool!
The 10th of December, can’t say it enough,
We can all make this happen, it shouldn’t be tough.
On the 10th of December let’s do our best to impress,
By going to vote and just checking “yes”!
Our schools need more than one little suture,
So let’s band together and Build Brookline’s Future!
December 10th is the start, a really fine day,
To bring Brookline together, this is the way!
Mike Offner
Town Meeting member, Precinct 12, Clinton Road
It is time now indeed, dear friends one and all,
To do what we should have been doing all fall.
We need more space in our schools, that no one does doubt,
So how come we just keep on going without?
Driscoll is ready, for Driscoll it’s time,
To keep putting it off is really a crime!
The building is old and falling right down,
Just walk by and see it and surely you’ll frown.
The windows are cracking, the furnace is broken,
Oh when, oh when will we all be awoken?
Our kids deserve better, and our teachers do, too,
Oh my, oh my just what shall we do?
There is only one answer that really makes sense,
And we mustn’t just sit here on top of the fence!
In truth we all know the one right conclusion,
It’s time now to solve this with one debt exclusion!
Show your support, unbridle your passion,
Because building this school is really in fashion!
Let’s spread the word wide and then all remember
To come out and vote on the 10th of December!
buildbrooklinesfuture.org is the name of the site
And once you start reading you’ll stay up all night!
It’s got so many details and all kinds of facts,
The team for this plan has gone to the max!
Ready your lawn signs and ready your voice,
To spread the word wide so we all can rejoice!
Spread the word in your precinct, and then at your school,
Tell them that getting this passed will be cool!
The 10th of December, can’t say it enough,
We can all make this happen, it shouldn’t be tough.
On the 10th of December let’s do our best to impress,
By going to vote and just checking “yes”!
Our schools need more than one little suture,
So let’s band together and Build Brookline’s Future!
December 10th is the start, a really fine day,
To bring Brookline together, this is the way!
Mike Offner
Town Meeting member, Precinct 12, Clinton Road
Campaign for Driscoll kicks off in Brookline
Nov 12, 2019
The Build Brookline’s Future Campaign was officially launched on Saturday with a kickoff event that attracted dozens of Brookline residents of all ages from across town — all of whom are committed to the success of the referendum for the Driscoll School reconstruction that is scheduled for Dec. 10.
Among those attending were four Select Board members and six School Committee members, as well as school parents and children, members of Town Meeting and the Brookline Advisory (finance) Committee, three candidates for the open 4th congressional district seat, and even the leader of the May 2019 No campaign, who is a strong supporter of the Driscoll referendum.
Said Select Board member Heather Hamilton, who is co-chairing the campaign, “I am proud to be part of a campaign that can bring people from across Brookline together. Working as a community for a successful Driscoll vote on December 10 will be an important step toward solving the townwide overcrowding problem.”
School Committee member and campaign co-chair David Pearlman added, “The Driscoll project will allow Brookline to continue its tradition of excellence in public education, not only at Driscoll which will have a much needed new building, but also at our other seven elementary schools, all of which will benefit from the Driscoll expansion which reduces school overcrowding across town.”
Driscoll parent and campaign strategist C. Scott Ananian — a vocal proponent of the Driscoll reconstruction — applauded the energy of the dozens of campaign volunteers who attended, saying “With December 10 just a month away, it is great to see the campaign’s energy and everyone’s enthusiasm for the project.”
The proposed project would build a new, larger, fossil-fuel-free school on the Driscoll site in Washington Square, adding capacity for at least 225 more pre-K through 8th grade students than the current, worn out Driscoll building can accommodate. Approval of the funding for the Driscoll reconstruction and expansion will be voted on Dec. 10 by Brookline voters.
The Build Brookline’s Future Campaign was officially launched on Saturday with a kickoff event that attracted dozens of Brookline residents of all ages from across town — all of whom are committed to the success of the referendum for the Driscoll School reconstruction that is scheduled for Dec. 10.
Among those attending were four Select Board members and six School Committee members, as well as school parents and children, members of Town Meeting and the Brookline Advisory (finance) Committee, three candidates for the open 4th congressional district seat, and even the leader of the May 2019 No campaign, who is a strong supporter of the Driscoll referendum.
Said Select Board member Heather Hamilton, who is co-chairing the campaign, “I am proud to be part of a campaign that can bring people from across Brookline together. Working as a community for a successful Driscoll vote on December 10 will be an important step toward solving the townwide overcrowding problem.”
School Committee member and campaign co-chair David Pearlman added, “The Driscoll project will allow Brookline to continue its tradition of excellence in public education, not only at Driscoll which will have a much needed new building, but also at our other seven elementary schools, all of which will benefit from the Driscoll expansion which reduces school overcrowding across town.”
Driscoll parent and campaign strategist C. Scott Ananian — a vocal proponent of the Driscoll reconstruction — applauded the energy of the dozens of campaign volunteers who attended, saying “With December 10 just a month away, it is great to see the campaign’s energy and everyone’s enthusiasm for the project.”
The proposed project would build a new, larger, fossil-fuel-free school on the Driscoll site in Washington Square, adding capacity for at least 225 more pre-K through 8th grade students than the current, worn out Driscoll building can accommodate. Approval of the funding for the Driscoll reconstruction and expansion will be voted on Dec. 10 by Brookline voters.
Second time’s the charm: Driscoll School back on the Brookline ballot
Oct 30, 2019
Feeling a sense of déjà vu? The Driscoll override is back on the ballot in Brookline, this time riding solo.
The Select Board voted Tuesday to place a Driscoll School override vote on the ballot for a Dec. 10 townwide election. This would allow the town to use a debt exclusion to fund the construction of a new Driscoll School.
In May, voters turned down a bundled override to fund projects at the Driscoll and Baldwin sites. Together with the Pierce School, the three projects made up the town’s three-prong solution to crowding in K-8 schools.
However, the Baldwin project was far more controversial than Driscoll, with neighbors citing concerns about traffic impact and land use restrictions at the site.
Others took issue with the plan to build a ninth elementary school in general, with some back-and-forth over enrollment numbers and predicted trends.
A new four-section Driscoll School will increase the district enrollment capacity by 150-200 pre-k to eighth-grade students, Interim Superintendent Ben Lummis told the Select Board on Oct. 22. It will also get three Brookline Early Education Program classes out of rental spaces, he said.
The building project “serves the need of the Driscoll community by addressing overcrowding and substandard spaces in the school,” Lummis said.
The existing school is outdated and past its useful life, he added, and “frankly, is well below what anyone would expect Brookline standards would be for its school buildings.”
He cautioned against tying the fate of Driscoll to a potential school building project on the former Newbury College campus. Ohio-based senior housing developer Welltower closed on the property and has offered to sell the town the west side of the land for development, an offer Brookline is considering.
“We are far from acquiring this land and there is much process and many votes to come before the town ultimately decides if it wants to build a school there, or a swimming pool, or a park, or an ice rink, administrative offices or DPW facilities,” Lummis said.
Linking or bundling Driscoll with Newbury would likely put Driscoll on hold for years, he said.
“We know we need Driscoll. There isn’t a scenario anyone has considered that does not include Driscoll moving forward,” Lummis said.
He added, “At some point, Brookline needs to get going on the first step, or all the other efforts will be put off as well.”
Feeling a sense of déjà vu? The Driscoll override is back on the ballot in Brookline, this time riding solo.
The Select Board voted Tuesday to place a Driscoll School override vote on the ballot for a Dec. 10 townwide election. This would allow the town to use a debt exclusion to fund the construction of a new Driscoll School.
In May, voters turned down a bundled override to fund projects at the Driscoll and Baldwin sites. Together with the Pierce School, the three projects made up the town’s three-prong solution to crowding in K-8 schools.
However, the Baldwin project was far more controversial than Driscoll, with neighbors citing concerns about traffic impact and land use restrictions at the site.
Others took issue with the plan to build a ninth elementary school in general, with some back-and-forth over enrollment numbers and predicted trends.
A new four-section Driscoll School will increase the district enrollment capacity by 150-200 pre-k to eighth-grade students, Interim Superintendent Ben Lummis told the Select Board on Oct. 22. It will also get three Brookline Early Education Program classes out of rental spaces, he said.
The building project “serves the need of the Driscoll community by addressing overcrowding and substandard spaces in the school,” Lummis said.
The existing school is outdated and past its useful life, he added, and “frankly, is well below what anyone would expect Brookline standards would be for its school buildings.”
He cautioned against tying the fate of Driscoll to a potential school building project on the former Newbury College campus. Ohio-based senior housing developer Welltower closed on the property and has offered to sell the town the west side of the land for development, an offer Brookline is considering.
“We are far from acquiring this land and there is much process and many votes to come before the town ultimately decides if it wants to build a school there, or a swimming pool, or a park, or an ice rink, administrative offices or DPW facilities,” Lummis said.
Linking or bundling Driscoll with Newbury would likely put Driscoll on hold for years, he said.
“We know we need Driscoll. There isn’t a scenario anyone has considered that does not include Driscoll moving forward,” Lummis said.
He added, “At some point, Brookline needs to get going on the first step, or all the other efforts will be put off as well.”
Letter to the Editor: An important deadline
Sep 29, 2019
The Select Board faces a crucial deadline. It must act by Oct. 1 to place a 4-section Driscoll school project on the ballot for Tuesday, Nov. 5 — the natural November election day. In May, over 72 percent of Town Meeting members called to put this project back before voters by Nov. 19; the Select Board will fail to do so if it doesn’t act by approximately Oct. 10. If that were to happen, Driscoll-4 would be pushed into an already crowded 2020 calendar, when campaigns will struggle for resources and volunteers face competing demands: a March presidential primary, a May contested Town election, a September congressional primary, and the November presidential election.
Driscoll-4 is a common sense project with widespread support. The longer we wait, the more it will cost. Boston-area construction cost inflation is roughly 8 percent per year; each week’s delay on the $108 million Driscoll-4 project costs us $175,000! But what would we get for our investment? Quite a bit.
First, we would get a new Driscoll School, replacing a century-old building at the end of its useful life. The 28 classrooms currently used in the Driscoll building, built as a two-section school, will soon become unusable unless we invest millions of dollars in a major renovation. The Driscoll Building Committee carefully considered options to renovate the existing building or build a new one next to it, and found the latter made much more sense.
Second, we would get a good deal of new K-8 capacity to address Town-wide overcrowding. Driscoll-4 would fully resolve Driscoll’s present overcrowding plus reduce Pierce/Lawrence/Lincoln/etc. overcrowding by at least 130 seats plus add 3 BEEP pre-K classrooms. As we’ve long heard, we need those extra seats ASAP! Between the replacement and new capacity, we would get 36 new K-8 classrooms (~750 students) and many other spaces necessary to grow from a 2-section to a 4-section school; almost doubling the net floor area.
Third, we would advance our Town’s sustainability. Driscoll-4 would be a fossil-fuel-free school—a major step forward for Brookline’s public buildings. Driscoll is well-located to directly relieve overcrowding where it actually exists, without forcing students into cars twice a day.
In short, Driscoll-4 is a no-brainer. We need it now. There are plenty of things on which we can better spend $175,000/week. Please urge the Select Board to move Driscoll-4 forward as the next step to build Brookline’s future.
C. Scott Ananian (Driscoll parent, Brookline Town Meeting Member, Precinct 10)
Dave Gacioch (Heath parent, Brookline Town Meeting Member, Precinct 13)
The Select Board faces a crucial deadline. It must act by Oct. 1 to place a 4-section Driscoll school project on the ballot for Tuesday, Nov. 5 — the natural November election day. In May, over 72 percent of Town Meeting members called to put this project back before voters by Nov. 19; the Select Board will fail to do so if it doesn’t act by approximately Oct. 10. If that were to happen, Driscoll-4 would be pushed into an already crowded 2020 calendar, when campaigns will struggle for resources and volunteers face competing demands: a March presidential primary, a May contested Town election, a September congressional primary, and the November presidential election.
Driscoll-4 is a common sense project with widespread support. The longer we wait, the more it will cost. Boston-area construction cost inflation is roughly 8 percent per year; each week’s delay on the $108 million Driscoll-4 project costs us $175,000! But what would we get for our investment? Quite a bit.
First, we would get a new Driscoll School, replacing a century-old building at the end of its useful life. The 28 classrooms currently used in the Driscoll building, built as a two-section school, will soon become unusable unless we invest millions of dollars in a major renovation. The Driscoll Building Committee carefully considered options to renovate the existing building or build a new one next to it, and found the latter made much more sense.
Second, we would get a good deal of new K-8 capacity to address Town-wide overcrowding. Driscoll-4 would fully resolve Driscoll’s present overcrowding plus reduce Pierce/Lawrence/Lincoln/etc. overcrowding by at least 130 seats plus add 3 BEEP pre-K classrooms. As we’ve long heard, we need those extra seats ASAP! Between the replacement and new capacity, we would get 36 new K-8 classrooms (~750 students) and many other spaces necessary to grow from a 2-section to a 4-section school; almost doubling the net floor area.
Third, we would advance our Town’s sustainability. Driscoll-4 would be a fossil-fuel-free school—a major step forward for Brookline’s public buildings. Driscoll is well-located to directly relieve overcrowding where it actually exists, without forcing students into cars twice a day.
In short, Driscoll-4 is a no-brainer. We need it now. There are plenty of things on which we can better spend $175,000/week. Please urge the Select Board to move Driscoll-4 forward as the next step to build Brookline’s future.
C. Scott Ananian (Driscoll parent, Brookline Town Meeting Member, Precinct 10)
Dave Gacioch (Heath parent, Brookline Town Meeting Member, Precinct 13)
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: BUILD BROOKLINE'S FUTURE
Sep 21, 2019
We are writing to urge the Select Board to put the four-section Driscoll School project, Driscoll-4, before Brookline’s voters as soon as possible. With construction costs increasing by 8.4 percent annually, each week of delay is costing taxpayers $175,000.
The current Driscoll School building is crumbling and overcrowded. The shovel-ready Driscoll-4 project would replace it with a state-of-the-art, fossil-fuel-free building on the same site, with three new Pre-K BEEP classrooms and capacity — including gym, cafeteria, art, music and special education space — for 750 K-8 students. This is 130 more than attend Driscoll now, and as many as 390 more than the old building was designed for. It is a “two birds, one stone” opportunity: replacing the old building with a new one and simultaneously taking a big bite out of townwide overcrowding.
Last week, the School Committee’s Capital Improvements Subcommittee unanimously endorsed a capacity plan that includes Driscoll-4 as its first component. Two days later, 7 of our 9 School Committee members spoke in favor of moving Driscoll-4 forward quickly, while none spoke against it. They postponed a formal vote in order to give proper public notice in advance, but their intent was clear and the chair closed the discussion by noting the committee’s sense of urgency about moving ahead. We look forward to that favorable School Committee vote by the end of September.
For Driscoll-4 to appear on the ballot this fall, four out of five Select Board members must vote to put it there. Please join us in urging them to do so by Oct. 1, so that the public can vote in early November. If our leaders move quickly, the new school could still open in the fall of 2021, in time to welcome additional students when the long-needed Pierce School renovation project begins.
If you would like to help keep Driscoll-4 moving forward, please email fourdriscoll@gmail.com to learn how.
Kim Loscalzo, Driscoll School parent
Andreas Liu, Pierce School parent, Town Meeting member, Precinct 10
We are writing to urge the Select Board to put the four-section Driscoll School project, Driscoll-4, before Brookline’s voters as soon as possible. With construction costs increasing by 8.4 percent annually, each week of delay is costing taxpayers $175,000.
The current Driscoll School building is crumbling and overcrowded. The shovel-ready Driscoll-4 project would replace it with a state-of-the-art, fossil-fuel-free building on the same site, with three new Pre-K BEEP classrooms and capacity — including gym, cafeteria, art, music and special education space — for 750 K-8 students. This is 130 more than attend Driscoll now, and as many as 390 more than the old building was designed for. It is a “two birds, one stone” opportunity: replacing the old building with a new one and simultaneously taking a big bite out of townwide overcrowding.
Last week, the School Committee’s Capital Improvements Subcommittee unanimously endorsed a capacity plan that includes Driscoll-4 as its first component. Two days later, 7 of our 9 School Committee members spoke in favor of moving Driscoll-4 forward quickly, while none spoke against it. They postponed a formal vote in order to give proper public notice in advance, but their intent was clear and the chair closed the discussion by noting the committee’s sense of urgency about moving ahead. We look forward to that favorable School Committee vote by the end of September.
For Driscoll-4 to appear on the ballot this fall, four out of five Select Board members must vote to put it there. Please join us in urging them to do so by Oct. 1, so that the public can vote in early November. If our leaders move quickly, the new school could still open in the fall of 2021, in time to welcome additional students when the long-needed Pierce School renovation project begins.
If you would like to help keep Driscoll-4 moving forward, please email fourdriscoll@gmail.com to learn how.
Kim Loscalzo, Driscoll School parent
Andreas Liu, Pierce School parent, Town Meeting member, Precinct 10
Letter to the Editor: Put Driscoll on the ballot
Jul 27, 2019
As parents of young children in the Public Schools of Brookline, we are deeply worried by the current amount of substandard space and overcrowding in our elementary schools.
In 2018, enrollment in grades K-8 exceeded capacity by roughly 500 students, forcing children and teachers across town to work in hallways, closets and unsuitable rented spaces.
We believe that as a first step toward solving this problem, Driscoll School should be renovated and expanded from three sections to four. This would add 175 K-8 seats in a neighborhood where they are needed urgently.
A finished design for this expansion exists already. It fits naturally into all of the comprehensive solutions to overcrowding that are now before the School Committee. It has the strong backing of its own school community, its neighborhood, and a town-wide network of supporters who are ready to campaign for it.
All it lacks is the chance to be judged by the voters on its own merits.
On May 7, 2019, voters defeated a “bundled” debt exclusion question that combined a renovation of the Driscoll School with a new school at the current Baldwin School location. Public objections had focused almost entirely on Baldwin, but the defeat of the measure meant that Driscoll was put on hold as well.
Shortly after the Baldwin-Driscoll bundle was defeated, Town Meeting (Brookline’s elected legislative body) voted overwhelmingly to ask the Select Board to allow a separate townwide vote on Driscoll as soon as possible.
Since then, neither the School Committee nor the Select Board has voted or taken a formal position on Driscoll.
We call on these elected officials to respond urgently to an urgent problem, by putting Driscoll on the ballot this November and letting Brookline’s voters have their say.
Josh Eagle, Driscoll parent, Precinct 11
Eva Gellert, Driscoll parent, Precinct 11
Nicholas Gertler, Driscoll parent, Precinct 11, Town Meeting member
Beth Gilligan, Driscoll parent, Precinct 13
Naomi Sweitzer, Pierce parent, Precinct 10, Town Meeting member
As parents of young children in the Public Schools of Brookline, we are deeply worried by the current amount of substandard space and overcrowding in our elementary schools.
In 2018, enrollment in grades K-8 exceeded capacity by roughly 500 students, forcing children and teachers across town to work in hallways, closets and unsuitable rented spaces.
We believe that as a first step toward solving this problem, Driscoll School should be renovated and expanded from three sections to four. This would add 175 K-8 seats in a neighborhood where they are needed urgently.
A finished design for this expansion exists already. It fits naturally into all of the comprehensive solutions to overcrowding that are now before the School Committee. It has the strong backing of its own school community, its neighborhood, and a town-wide network of supporters who are ready to campaign for it.
All it lacks is the chance to be judged by the voters on its own merits.
On May 7, 2019, voters defeated a “bundled” debt exclusion question that combined a renovation of the Driscoll School with a new school at the current Baldwin School location. Public objections had focused almost entirely on Baldwin, but the defeat of the measure meant that Driscoll was put on hold as well.
Shortly after the Baldwin-Driscoll bundle was defeated, Town Meeting (Brookline’s elected legislative body) voted overwhelmingly to ask the Select Board to allow a separate townwide vote on Driscoll as soon as possible.
Since then, neither the School Committee nor the Select Board has voted or taken a formal position on Driscoll.
We call on these elected officials to respond urgently to an urgent problem, by putting Driscoll on the ballot this November and letting Brookline’s voters have their say.
Josh Eagle, Driscoll parent, Precinct 11
Eva Gellert, Driscoll parent, Precinct 11
Nicholas Gertler, Driscoll parent, Precinct 11, Town Meeting member
Beth Gilligan, Driscoll parent, Precinct 13
Naomi Sweitzer, Pierce parent, Precinct 10, Town Meeting member