Swampscott School Committee Announces Support For Rail Trail

SWAMPSCOTT, MA – The Swampscott School Committee recently announced that it would support the creation of the Swampscott Rail Trail, joining several other boards and committees. In a statement, the committee disputed the argument that such a project would take funding away from the district.

"The Swampscott Rail Trail is an important investment for every resident of Swampscott," read the statement. "We believe that the creation of a rail trail does not represent an either-or scenario for the town. We do not have to choose between a rail trail or good schools, we can have both"

According to the statement, the proposed Rail Trail is a 2-mile linear park that would run close to three of Swampscott's schools and athletic fields. The Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, Capital Improvement Committee, Conservation Commission, Planning Board, Open Space Committee, and Recreation Committee have also expressed support for the trail.

"Prior generations' deferred maintenance coupled with changing educational requirements have left our aging school buildings – Hadley (1911), Stanley (1929), Clarke (1952), and the Middle School (1958) – grossly inadequate to support 21st century teaching and learning," said the statement. "In the past 5 years, the School Department and School Committee have sought and have received an unprecedented increase in capital funding to make sensible and important upgrades and repairs to our school facilities."

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