North Reading At a Crossroads

In the 1950s and 1960s, North Reading faced a crossroads. Babies boomed in this small rural town, and residents met the challenge by building three elementary schools, a , and, soon after, a . The townspeople believed in education and put the bricks and mortar — and funding — together to support that tenet.

Now, it is a new century and North Reading faces a crossroads again. Our town has the opportunity to build a middle school and a high school to replace our antiquated buildings. But it’s not just any opportunity; it’s a one-time opportunity. The state agency charged with funding school construction in Massachusetts, the MSBA, has approved $47 million of state funding to match our own $60 million. With this funding, we can bring our schools into the 21st century, allowing our students and teachers full access to the technology, space, and environment that best supports learning.

This blog will allow Invest in North Reading and North Reading citizens a forum to address questions, engage in productive, informative discussion, and, we hope, bring all voters a full understanding of the choice they face at Town Meeting on March 19 and the ballot on March 24.

Please check back regularly for news and updates. We would like to hear your questions; we pledge to keep our input respectful and informative about the project. For more information, please visit our Web site or the Secondary Schools Building Committee’s Web site.