By Mira Vale

It’s difficult to know exactly how L-S will be affected by the failed overrides. Rumors have been flying everywhere as to which activities, sports, classes, and faculty members will be cut, and I don’t blame anyone for the current absence of a definitive list. The allocation of funds is tricky business, and no matter what is cut or downsized, people are negatively affected and the entire community suffers as a result. 
I doubt that next year will bring the sort of academic armageddon that many people predict. The School Committee is working hard to make only the most reasonable reductions. Aside from the areas previously mentioned, I don’t think most students will be aware of changes next year, and I don’t think the quality of education or the essential character of our school will change. 
What I do worry about is the 2009 to 2010 school year. If another override fails next year, the district is in serious trouble. Staff wages will decrease, fuel and energy costs will increase, and if the trend continues, state aid will continue to lag far behind the needs of L-S. Basically, if Sudbury fails to muster the financial support that L-S needs in 2009, I predict damaging consequences.
Another defeated override could lead to the elimination of the First Adventure program. This is the type of situation that would affect the quality of education and the unique environment at L-S. 
As far as my own involvement with this year’s overrides, I tried to mobilize L-S students to campaign for the overrides. I created a Facebook event that attracted over two dozen attendees, many of whom showed up at Sudbury Town Center or at the Sudbury elementary schools on voting day to hold signs in support of L-S. Unfortunately, the overrides were defeated by an almost two-to-one margin. 
In the aftermath of the vote, I wrote an article for the Lincoln Journal and the Sudbury Town Crier on the student response to the override vote, which is available at wickedlocal.com/lincoln.