To the Editor:

Martha and I chose to come to Williamstown some 40 years ago in 1976 with three children aged 9, 7 and 2. Our decision came in large part because of the reputation of the Williamstown and Mount Greylock school systems. Here our children, and now grandchildren, have received outstanding educations that enabled them to attend colleges of their choice that they might not have otherwise.

We started a small publishing business (Storey Publishing) that needed creative talent, most of which was instantly available in the Berkshire Hills, but some of which had to be convinced to move from other parts of the country to a small New England town. The reputation of Mount Greylock Regional High School was a strong asset and incentive to be able to offer prospective employees.

And while Williams College (from which I graduated) has been criticized for not doing more, look at what they have done and what they are committed to doing in the future. How many towns would love to have the chance to partner with a college like Williams to enrich the quality of their local high school?

Those who have read carefully the enormous amount of data that has been gathered are likely to conclude that a new facility, enabling even better teaching and a superior education, is both the smart and right thing to do for this and future generations. And we are fortunate that the state of Massachusetts will pick up more than half of the total bill. All of this is in our economic self-interest, positively affecting property values, job creation and more.

We're hoping that voters will take advantage of this "once in our lifetime" opportunity that will enable Lanesborough and Williamstown to have a regional high school facility in which we can all take pride. A new, safe and healthy school would give us all hope about the prospects of this and future generations of deserving students.

John & Martha Storey
Williamstown, Mass.

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