is for

Anthony

RODRIGUEZ

SCHOOL COMMITTEE

1 YEAR TERM

Kristen Schelleng – In support of Anthony Rodriguez for School Committee – 1 year term

I am writing to express my enthusiastic support for Anthony Rodriguez's candidacy for the Dedham School Committee – 1 year seat.

Anthony and I overlap in several circles, and I am so privileged to call him my friend and colleague. As Greenlodge residents, we’ve both found ourselves socially engaged with neighborhood meet-ups, dog walks, and simply enjoying the wonderful neighborhood we live in. As a parent to a young child myself, and with Anthony’s family’s adoption journey underway, we’ve bonded over what new parenthood entails (the endless joys and, of course, the sleepless nights). We’ve shared our hopes and dreams for our children, and how we look forward to raising them in the Dedham community; a space where we have found the warmth and welcoming we want our children to continue to spread. Lastly, as professionals in architecture and design, Anthony and I both practice in the Boston area, contributing to making the built environment a place for all to thrive and enjoy.

Let’s diverge from Anthony for a moment to reflect on the recent revelations about the deteriorating condition of four of our town’s school buildings – Oakdale, Greenlodge, Riverdale and the High School. This should concern every Dedham resident.

One of several Dedham school buildings without proper temperature controls, the Greenlodge school experienced a significant mold bloom last summer, requiring the disposal of several classroom furnishings and professional textbook cleaning. While investigating the mold bloom, structural deficiencies were also uncovered: a portion of the building has sunk into the ground by roughly two inches and multiple structural steel supports are rusted and rotting.

Portions of the roofs at Riverdale and the High School currently exist in failing conditions, with active leaks and numerous patches. The last Town Meeting approved reallocating $700,000 in funding to address urgent repairs to these two roofs, and the Facilities Department anticipates needing more funding in the near term to fully address the issues.

Significant parts of Oakdale, Greenlodge and Riverdale are not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which means that these buildings have limited or no accessibility for those with physical disabilities.These architectural barriers affect not only the everyday users of the buildings (students, educators and staff) but also presenters, family, friends, and any visitors to the buildings. The lack of automatic fire protection systems also creates unnecessary risk in these schools, as does the presence of hazardous materials including asbestos and PCBs.

With the issues outlined above, it’s clear to see that Dedham’s school infrastructure is a core challenge for our town, and what our School Committee needs most right now is someone who can knowledgeably contribute to the planning and execution of the improvements direly needed.

Mitigating these issues is a regular part of daily life for those of us in architectural practice, which is why I strongly support Anthony’s candidacy. Anthony will be able to help the School Committee navigate the tough decisions faced when prioritizing critical repairs and balancing associated cost implications. His professional experience specifically working on K-12 schools, with and without MSBA, can help us move swiftly and efficiently through the processes of designing and building the new school buildings we desperately need. His familiarity with all phases of a project (design through construction) means he is equipped to advise at any stage, which is imperative in making cost-conscious decisions at the architectural drawing stage as well as value management decisions before and during construction. It is with this insight that Anthony can help decrease the tax burden on residents while still ensuring healthy, safe and vibrant learning environments for students and educators.

In summary, I firmly believe that Anthony represents the keystone (architectural pun intended!) that our School Committee needs to support Dedham schools’ swift path towards creating and maintaining a modern, healthy, and equitable educational experience for all.

I hope you join me in supporting Anthony Rodriguez for School Committee (one year seat) as you cast your ballot in the April 13th town election.

Kristen Schelleng

AIA, LEED AP BD+C

Greenlodge