Viewpoints

In his letter, David Long of Housatonic writes: "This is not a time for the opposition to gloat, or the pro side to be discouraged. Yes one opportunity has been rejected. But now we have a new opportunity to do something even better."

In his letter, Berkshire Hills Supt. Peter Dillon writes: "Recent posts on social media, letters and comments on radio programs are so filled with inaccuracies and glaring omissions that it makes sense to set the record straight. Our recent community dialogues about the high school renovation project have surfaced a range of concerns that may have been ignored for decades. We’re working hard to resolve them and are making significant progress."

In his letter, Lou Davis writes: "My objection is not to the cost of quality education, or paying the taxes necessary to support it. I do object to having my taxes subsidize out-of-District students."

If Great Barrington is to have a future as good as its past, it must embrace the new industries that are springing up, and the new people who are coming to town to participate in them. These new people are attracted by a town where the institutions of American civic life still function, where they can get their children a first-rate public education for their property tax dollars.

In his letter Berkshire Hills Superintendent Peter Dillon writes: "Doing the project as presented addresses the school’s inadequacies in systematic and deliberate ways that actually will cost us less than doing it piecemeal. It gives us a wonderful space for learning for the next fifty years."

In her letter, Ellen Lahr of Housatonic writes: "I’m willing to pitch in $218 per year to create a safe, healthy and collaborative learning environment for our district’s teachers and students. I surely support that $23.2 million in school construction funds that the state is ready to send our way."

In her letter, Vivian Orlowski writes: "Being pro-education means supporting the people and the programs — it does not equate to being pro-construction."

In his letter, Andy Potter of Great Barrington writes: "I have begun to see a line of argument that borders on dishonest fear-mongering of the sort we have become used to from our national political discourse."

In their letter, Gene Kalish and Anne Hutchinson write: "Just as he has dedicated himself to his family and their education, we believe that he will dedicate himself to the betterment of the school district."

In her letter, Leigh Davis, a member of the Great Barrington Finance Committee, notes: "One of the best and most compelling ways to attract young parents to come to or stay in Berkshire County is to have schools that are attractive and desirable for their kids to attend."

The teachers write: "We believe that the proposed renovation will dramatically improve the building's use as an educational tool, both in design and function, for the next 50+ years. The renovated MMRHS will create a safe and healthy learning environment."

In her letter, Sharon Gregory claims that "strategic resource planning and belt tightening" are preferable to renovation of the high school, and that "programmatic and facilities duplication has not been addressed."

In his letter, architect Housatonic Diego Gutierrez defends the 5-year process through which the Monument Mountain Regional High School renovation project was developed.

In her letter, Patricia Ryan states: "Many of us are frugal New Englanders trying to take care of ourselves as best we can. We repair our homes as needed. We make do."

Jon Piasecki of West Stockbridge writes: "The claim that some random person can design it better than the thoughtful professionals who have worked for years on this renovation is a lie. The claim that it will be cheaper to do nothing and let the school rot is a lie."

In his letter, Rich Bradway writes: "After reviewing dozens of potential project scenarios, the School Committee came up with one project that would encompass updates to the building in all areas -- structure, utilities, security, safety and education."