UPDATED: Lexington Voters Say 'Yes for Our Schools' (PHOTOS)

A pair of ballot questions seeking more than $60 million for elementary school building projects passed overwhelmingly during a special election held Tuesday, Jan. 24.

The preliminary results are in and they indicate resounding support for the debt exclusion questions seeking funding for repairs to the Bridge and Bowman elementary schools and rebuilding Estabrook Elementary. Lexington voters yesterday were asked to finance through debt exclusion overrides a pair of school building projects totalling about $60 million and the 27 percent or so who turned out solidly responded to the "Yes for Our Schools" rallying call of the campaign supporting the projects. Voter participation was significantly lower than expected, with turnout topping 30 percent in only percincts 2, 4 and 7. The polling places for those precincts were at the Bowman, Bridge and Estabrook schools, respectively. The first question, to fund…

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: Jan. 23

Arraignment on murder charges, the selectmen discuss the capital budget, eating local at Nourish and more today in Lexington.

1. Conkey Arraignment Scheduled for Today: The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office on Friday announced the arraignment of Craig Conkey is scheduled for 9 a.m. this morning at Woburn Superior Court. Conkey, a convicted killer, is accused of first-degree murder in the previously unsolved 1992 killing of Lexington resident Kathleen Dempsey. Check Patch for an update later today. 2. BOS Takes Up Capital Budget: The Board of Selectmen is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. this evening at the Town Office Building and its agenda incldues discussing the School Committee's request for an April 2 special Town Meeting for the Estabrook School building project, as well as the fiscal 2013 capital budget. 3. All Local Dinner at Nourish: Working in conjunction…

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Lexington LWV Offering Free Rides to the Polls Jan. 24

Need a ride to the polls next Tuesday? Call on the Lexington League of Women Voters.

Next Tuesday, Jan. 24, Lexington voters will hit the polls to decide on financing a pair of school building projects that would spend tens of millions of dollars to rebuild one elementary school and renovate two others. And the Lexington League of Women Voters is offering a ride to the polls for anyone who needs one. For a free ride to the polls for the special election, just call the League of Women Voters of Lexington at 781-862-6498. The local LWV has endorsed both questions on the ballot, but is not limiting its offer to provide a ride to like-minded individuals. The free rides program, an election tradition in Lexington, extends to the offer every eligible voter, according to Pat Costello, a communications person for the league. In …

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Week in Review: Jan. 8 to 14

A look back at the week that was in Lexington.

We started this week by asking whether you all thought the Pledge of Allegiance belongs in the Lexington Public Schools, where, as it turns out, the pledge is not uniformly said despite state law suggesting schools should recite it daily. A poll was posted and, as of Saturday morning, 38 of 66 voters believe the pledge should be said every day in all of schools. Our commenters, however, found themselves split the subject. On Tuesday morning, we posted a story about Lexington High Principal Natalie Cohen’s plans to retire June 30. Cohen’s letter to staff, administrators and the school community leaked out late Monday and Superintendent Paul Ash confirmed the news Tuesday morning. Later that day, Town Manager Carl Valente used his column to …

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POLL: How Will You Vote in Jan. 24's Three-School Special Election

Do you support plans to rebuild Estabrook Elementary and renovate the Bridge and Bowman schools? Take our poll or let us know in the comments section below.

On Tuesday, Jan. 24, the voters of Lexington will be asked to finance through a debt exclusion a pair of school building projects that would spend tens of millions of dollars to rebuild one elementary school and renovate two others. Two questions will be on the ballot. One seeks funding to rebuild Estabrook Elementary School, a project already an aggressive schedule as the town sticks to the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s timeline following the discovery and subsequent remediation of polychlorinated byphenyl (PCB) at the school last summer and fall. The project is currently in the schematic design phase and will likely result in a three-story school with an approximately $40 million price tag. The other will ask for $21 million-…

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: Jan 12

An info session on the upcoming special election questions, candidate deadlines and maybe some snow today in Lexington.

1. Info Session on Special Election Questions: Looking to learn about the upcoming debt exclusion requests for proejcts to rebuild Estabrook Elementary and renovate the Bridge and Bowman Schools? The Lexington League of Women Voters is hosting an information session at 7 p.m. tonight at the Clarke Middle School. Hear about it from a member of the Board of Selectmen, the Director of Facilities Maintenance and members of the YES and NO campaigns.  2. Interested in Running for Elected Office or Town Meeting? Tomorrow's the final day to pick up nomination papers for the March 6, 2012 Annual Town Election ballot. Papers may be picked up at the Town Clerk's Office and must be returned by Tuesday, Jan. 17. 3. Today in Public Meetings: According …

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LWV Forum Covers School Projects Before Debt Exclusion Vote

At Cary Memorial Library last Friday, a panel of four explained why the town is planning to rebuild Estabrook Elementary and renovate the Bridge and Bowman schools at a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters, which has endorsed both projects.

Saying she had two things on her mind: money and children, Selectwoman Deb Mauger explained why she, and the Board of Selectmen, voted to put debt exclusion requests to rebuild Estabrook Elementary and renovate the Bridge and Bowman elementary schools before the voters in a Jan. 24 special election.  Maguer said that, while she’s a retiree thinking about things like taxes and credit card bills accrued over the holidays, she’s also a Lexington resident thinking about local children and their education. Mauger must have known her audience. She was speaking at the Lexington League of Women Voters’ First Friday Forum last week at Cary Memorial Library. The League, which has endorsed both debt exclusion requests, promoted the informational …

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: Jan. 4

Voter registration deadline, flu shots in an unlikely location and more today in and around Lexington.

1. Last Chance to Register for Debt Exclusion: Today is the voter registration deadline for the Jan. 24 special election/debt exclusion vote, with questions on renovations to the Bridge and Bowman elementary schools and rebuilding Estabrook Elementary. In order to participate in the vote, registrations must be postmarked or received at the Town Clerk’s Office no later than 8 p.m., today, Wednesday, Jan. 4. 2. Today in Public Meetings: According to the town website, public meetings posted for today include the Lexington Center Committee's subcommittee on zoning at 8:30 a.m. this morning at the Town Office Building (agenda here); the Council on Aging Board at 3:30 p.m. at the Senior Center (agenda here) and the Trustees of Cary Library at 5 …

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