Why A New Galvin Middle School?
This will be the question frequently asked in the days leading up to the town vote. The answers, of course, will vary because this is a complex issue and needs to be looked at as such. Community needs and individual needs all play significant roles, but the prevailing factor is money. If a new Galvin Middle School were to be completely funded through state sources, then this would be a non-issue. Who would not want a free school? The town, though, is being asked to contribute.

Responses to the project proposal have largely been one of following:

1. We do nothing, and leave the Middle School as is;
2. We try to renovate the existing building;
3. We replace the existing building with an entirely new structure.

The first option is, of course, possible but the least desirable. The reality of the situation is that the current building is in disrepair and, as it stands, does not meet several safety codes. It is not difficult to hear stories about the poor quality of the neglected building – the exposed asbestos and poor air quality, the rodents, the outdated and inefficient plumbing and electrical system, the overcrowded classrooms and accessibility problems. The list goes on and on. What is not heard is also important. Students will speak proudly of their teachers, administration and staff, but not of the building itself – it is a source of frustration and shame.  The first “do nothing” option for the project proposal is simply no longer feasible. The hazardous and impractical condition of the building has reached the point where action must be taken. To do nothing would not stagnate the Galvin Middle School’s condition – it, instead, would continue the building’s downward spiral.

The second option to renovate the school is worth considering, especially in an uncertain economic period. In times of financial insecurity, the governing logic seems to be to either hold on to the money that we have or to invest it to help stimulate growth. To spend nothing, as mentioned previously, is a poor choice – critical maintenance and updating are needed at Galvin. The question, then, for the renovation option is how much does the town want to spend on constantly repairing the nearly sixty-year old building?

Some people are inclined to drive their cars to the junkyard. Others chose to make necessary repairs until it simply becomes too costly and too unsafe to keep the car. This latter scenario is what has occurred at the Galvin Middle School. Town representatives have studied the cost analysis of maintaining the existing building and concluded that a new structure would be less expensive in the long run than constantly financing a deteriorating building. What our selected representatives have done, as we should, is to not just look at the present moment, but the future of Wakefield as well. What we save on today can hurt us tomorrow.

If you are curious or skeptical as to how our town representatives reached these conclusions, then please find the answers to your questions by reaching out to our town representatives and attending public meetings (such as the Permanent Building Committee and Galvin Middle School Building Advisory Committee meetings), so that you can make informed decisions based on facts rather than on unsubstantiated data from unreliable sources, guesswork, or inflamed gossip.

There are some prevailing ideas that we must resist in order to reach a valid conclusion on the middle school project. The idea that what was good for us is good for them is a logical fallacy. Times change, learning needs and approaches change, and structures, as well, need to change to accommodate for such developments. Moreover, the Galvin Middle School itself has changed. It is not the same building it was years ago – it is in deplorable condition. If you have not visited the school recently, then please take the opportunity to see its neglected exterior and interior condition.

Another lingering idea is that teachers can effectively teach in any environment and students, in turn, can effectively learn in any environment. This claim is not supported by any known reliable data or actual experience. As a teacher that has taught in various educational environments – from dirt floors to linoleum floors, and from chalkboards to smart boards – the learning facility and resources significantly matter to the quality of both teaching and learning. 

I am of the particular mindset that we as a community do need to invest in our present and future. Money wisely spent today can have long term cost benefits to Wakefield. The statistics from our neighboring communities show how property values rose when they built new schools. Investing in schools, of course, also makes a more inviting community for people to visit, move to, and invest in. It, as well, helps to retain residents who already live in these communities, who might have otherwise considered relocating to another area with better schools.  Lastly, investing in our schools stimulates more business growth in the area.

The prevailing counterargument to funding a new middle school is that Wakefield simply cannot afford it. If this is the case, then it is a sad reality we have to face. What we must not do, though, is to point to one small demographic of the community that cannot afford a tax increase and inflate that demographic as representing all of Wakefield. If we did this for every issue, then there would be no progress in Wakefield – ever. We, instead, must come together as an entire community and ask each other if we can collectively afford this investment in our children, ourselves, and our town. If the answer is yes, then this is why we need a new Galvin Middle School.

If you would like more information or would like to participate in helping to promote a new Galvin Middle School, please contact the Galvinize Wakefield Committee (http://www.galvinizewakefield.com/).

Joshua E. Polster,
Wakefield Resident