Community Urged to Fund New Monument Mountain School for Safety

Residents of Great Barrington, Stockbridge, and West Stockbridge are being called upon to vote on November 4, 2023, to fund a new high school to replace the aging Monument Mountain facility. Concerns about safety, health, and educational standards have prompted this initiative, as the current building, constructed in the mid-1960s, has not undergone significant renovations since its inception.

Emily Newman Stanton, a local veterinarian and parent, has voiced her apprehensions regarding the current state of the school. In her letter to the editor, she emphasizes the pressing need for a modern educational environment. “The classrooms are dark and uninspiring,” she writes, highlighting that the infrastructure is deteriorating and does not meet contemporary educational requirements.

Stanton points out that the safety risks associated with the aging structure are particularly alarming. The building was constructed during a time when materials such as asbestos, lead paint, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were commonplace. These toxic substances pose significant health hazards to students and staff. Stanton asserts that the existing facility is fundamentally unhealthy and that bringing it up to current safety standards would require a substantial financial investment.

The move to replace Monument Mountain is not simply about enhancing aesthetics or comfort. It is fundamentally about safeguarding the health of children who spend their days within its walls. In her words, “Replacing Monument Mountain High School is not about luxury. It’s about safety, health, and responsibility.”

Another critical aspect of the discussion is the design of the school, which predates modern concerns about school violence. The layout and entry points of the building do not facilitate secure access or effective lockdown capabilities. Last year, the school experienced multiple lockdowns due to threats, albeit unfounded. These incidents, Stanton recalls, were frightening for students and parents alike. “Our children practice for active shooter drills in a structure that was never designed for that reality,” she notes.

Stanton urges the community to recognize the importance of investing in a new school. The Massachusetts state government has pledged nearly $60 million toward the project, representing a unique opportunity to create a safe and healthy learning environment. “If we fail to act now, we risk losing that funding and saddling our children with another decade in an unsafe, uninspired and unhealthy building,” she warns.

As the vote approaches, the community faces a pivotal decision about the future of their school and the safety of their children. The time to act is now, according to Stanton, who believes that the current facility is a relic of another era. She concludes her letter by asserting that “we can do better. We must do better.”