To the Editor;
For over 50 years, Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School has been a place where students can come and learn the skilled trades so that they can train to build full and successful careers. As a senior, I look at our school’s storied history with immense pride. However, I am writing this piece to raise awareness at this important time in our school’s history. Recently, I feel the school’s reputation has been tarnished by necessary executive action and funding disputes, which are a necessary part of creating a functioning school and community.
Earlier this year and late last year, citizens from the five sending towns ultimately voted and rejected the proposal to fund a brand new school, utilizing money from the Massachusetts School Building Authority as well as existing funds. These MSBA funds were to the sum of $129 million, as well as an additional $11 million in state incentives. Now, I completely understand those who were concerned about a raise in property taxes, as it is a big concern of affordability, especially in our communities, which are largely areas with a higher number, per capita, of retirees and others who may be living rather modestly as it is. I can completely sympathize with those who may simply not have that money: I know people, such as my great-grandfather, who live by themselves and cannot afford these tax raises.
This is ultimately a funding issue, which has metastasized and become palpable in more recent times. I have seen throughout my time at Old Colony a revolving door of academic and technical teachers, replaced with teacher assistants and newer teachers. Now, I respect all these individuals, and I am sure that they are hired with respect to their merits; however, it is a great necessity to realize that their employment is based on long-serving educators and high-standing tradespeople leaving our community and going to work where they are often paid a higher salary and are employed where the union contract is consistently updated on time.
That brings me to my main motivation: I am writing because the recently expired Teamsters contract has become a pressing issue. I completely understand the teachers’ concerns that they are not being paid enough; as long as inflation is positive, the same pay buys less. However, I am very sympathetic to the administration and Mr. Polansky in particular, who wants the best for our school community.
Fellow citizens, I ask you to consider the institutional costs that have come with running a 50-year-old building; I am reminded of the famous quote from Senator and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, “Corporations are people too, my friend.” Old Colony operates with the administrative and fiscal realities of a corporation: balancing assets, operating costs, and labor contracts. But it is a corporation structured entirely for the public good. Its students are the return on that community investment, proving their success every day as they go to enter the workforce, attend college, or join our armed forces.
Out of respect for the teachers and administration of Old Colony, we must be honest about the true problem: funding. We must not tear our community apart, and the school committee should continue to do their work as they have been. I call to petition the Commonwealth, as our school, which has the special responsibility of teaching the skilled and technical programs that it does, simply needs more financial support. I fear that the compromise that would come otherwise will not be beneficial for any of the parties involved in ensuring trust in our institution.
Joshua John Major Jr.
Senior, Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School
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