Is Briggs worth the effort?

I am taking this time to write about Briggs Elementary School. Is it worth all the effort to redesign and fund changes? We are dealing with a building built to 1968 standards. An antiquated oil guzzling heating system, no provisions for air quality which was unheard of back then and a size to accommodate a town that has grown substantially in forty years. What about provisions for computers? Computers, which were unheard of to the average person, have become such a large part of today's society that our children need to be educated on them. I hear the argument that if it is in disrepair why wasn't it taken care of, it was. Time has just passed it by. So, we are now faced with spending money, ouch. If the state will reimburse us over 50 percent isn't it wise to take advantage of this? Oh but we pay state taxes so the money isn't free, yup that's true but I'd rather see the money come to Ashburnham than Greater Boston. Granted we are living in tough financial times but do we just shut down would it make sense? We can run an inefficient heating system and open windows for air quality but that's stupid. Or we can act now before it's too late and take advantage of today's prices and state reimbursements. We as a town need to get out of the mentality why spend a million dollars now when we can spend 10 million later. Before anyone decides to crucify me for my views, I face the same tax increases as you do and I am one of those people with an adjustable mortgage. Of my two children, one has graduated and the other is in high school, so I have nothing to personally gain from Briggs. I just hate to fully fund something when we can partially fund it to achieve the same results.

Leo Janssens II

Ashburnham