Groundbreaking of elementary school proceeds despite opposition
Date: 9/12/2012
By Carley Dangona
carley@thereminder.comWESTFIELD — On Sept. 7, the city celebrated the groundbreaking of the new elementary school on Ashley Street despite opposition from residents, whose protests caused the halt of construction at the new site, pending a hearing at the Superior Court at 2 p.m. on Sept. 12.
"This is protected land under Article 97," Thomas Kenefick III, the lawyer for the residents opposing the project, said. "There is a process through the state legislature [that is required before beginning construction on sites under this article] and they [the city] haven't even filed a petition [to begin the Ashley Street project]."
Under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act, Article 97 states that land covered under it — in this case, Cross Street Playground — and its initial designated use cannot be repurposed, unless the Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs deems so after review.
Mayor Daniel Knapik responded to the opposition and subsequent standstill of the project. "This is how the American legal process works," he said. "We'll get through this. They [the protesting residents] had an opportunity to be part of the process [in planning and speaking about the project]. I think it's unfair they took this tactic — halting generations of children's' progress.
State Sen. Michael Knapik remained positive. "I think the people will come to understand the decision [to go ahead with this project] and will hopefully accept it," he said.
"I'm a big believer that things can be worked out," Dr. Suzanne Scallion, Superintendent of Schools, said. "My focus is on the education of the children. I have to trust that the adults will work this out, and I believe they will."
During his public address at the ceremony, Mayor Knapik explained the purpose of the project. "We must learn from our past history of being unprepared for the future," he said. "We don't want to get caught flat-footed again. We're going to make the tough decisions, we're going to get this right — this is our obligation to the children. We're right-sizing our school footprint to plan ahead for the future."
Scallion elaborated on the importance of the new school for the city's children. "You [addressing the children attending the groundbreaking] matter to us," she said. "We are investing in you; we want you to have a bright future."
