HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-03-17-LHRC-att-copy (2)March 17, 2023
Town of Lexington Select Board
Town of Lexington Town Manager
1625 Massachusetts Avenue
Lexington, MA 02420
RE: Lexington Human Rights Committee
Dear Select Board, Jim Malloy, & Kelly Axtell,
At our March 8, 2023 meeting, the Lexington Human Rights Committee (LHRC)
voted to support Article 23, by a vote of 6-0-1, and Articles 33, 34 & 35, by a vote
of 7-0-0 for the upcoming 2023 Annual Town Meeting.
Article 23 - The LHRC has voted to endorse Article 23 establishing a Special
Education Reserve Fund that can be utilized by a vote of the School Committee
and the Select Board. By endorsing this article, the LHRC wishes to make funds
more accessible to meet the needs of some of the Town’s most vulnerable
students, namely special education students. The pandemic impacted the
educational experience of all of our students, and it is understood that children
with marginalized identities, especially those students with disabilities, were
disproportionately impacted. Post pandemic, there is an acute need for rapidly
accessible additional special education funding to address unexpected or urgent
needs. Some students may need additional intervention services while other
students may need more robust placements. By making this money more easily
accessible, it will allow Lexington Public Schools (LPS) more flexibility in meeting
the needs of students, giving them needed services and support(s) to mitigate
issues attendant to their education. This investment also has the potential of
saving the Town money over time on less cost-effective efforts, including
expensive and restrictive placements, which could be required in compliance with
legal mandates.
Articles 33, 34 & 35 - When the LHRC voted, we understood that Articles 34 and
35 would be combined. We included 33 in this section as we believe it is
complementary to Article 34. In support of the Planning Board’s initiatives to
address the urgent need for more diverse housing stock, the LHRC endorses these
articles to make housing more accessible in Lexington, while also supporting the
State’s overall intention to increase the stock of transit-accessible
housing. Further, more flexibility in housing options will enhance Lexington’s
ability to attract a broader, more diverse demographic, appealing to those
interested in housing types other than traditional single-family dwellings.
Moreover, this encourages future opportunities to create accessible and
affordable housing. Making housing in Lexington more accessible to a wider
variety of people allows opportunities for our Town to include broader
perspectives and talents to enhance our community, adding to the vibrancy of
Lexington.
Sincerely,
The Lexington Human Rights Committee