At the Dec. 6 public meeting, it was incredibly frustrating when repeated efforts to convince the prior school board to choose South Street over Broken Ground seemingly fell on deaf ears. We were not simply a “loud minority” as characterized by the previous school board; rather, we represented a significant portion of the community that has genuine concerns, preferences, and ideas that could result in a successful middle school project. It was disheartening that our efforts to engage in meaningful dialogue were dismissed, and the decision to build at Broken Ground was made with the input from what the prior school board deemed a silent or non-public majority that spoke to them directly and not in public.

We urge the current school board to rescind the decision to build at Broken Ground and start over with a fresh and inclusive approach. Let’s actively seek open and public input from the entire community, including those who spoke privately to prior school board members in support of the Broken Ground location. When planning a city-wide project of this magnitude, it’s crucial to foster a transparent and democratic decision-making process that genuinely considers the diverse perspectives within as much of the community as possible. It’s time to rectify the lapse of the previous school board and ensure that the community’s collective voice is not only heard but given the weight it deserves in determining the future of our middle school.

Jeff Wells

Concord