To the editor:

It is Saturday morning of Memorial Day weekend, and I've just read the letters to the editor. They have so inspired and moved me that I am now writing my first-ever letter to an editor.

I am a 57-year-old wife, mother and grandmother, and a resident and taxpayer of Beverly of over 30 years. I have also had the privilege of helping to educate scores of Beverly children over the past three decades, most recently at McKeown School, an incredible community where I am part of a magnificent team of teachers, staff, students and families.

I love living in Beverly. For me, a major piece of life here is the Beverly public schools. Our five children, now grown, have all graduated with fine educations from the Beverly schools.

As students, each child was given many opportunities to follow their interests and passions, and all of our children have gone on to colleges and universities. The oldest four have graduated, one having earned her bachelor's degree in three years, and have moved on to successful careers. Our youngest is a junior at UMass Lowell preparing for his own successful future.

My husband and I are grateful to Beverly's caring, knowledgeable and professional teachers who taught and inspired our children. We are also so thankful to the taxpayers who funded and continue to fund education. It is the sacrifice of these taxpayers that give countless Beverly children, our future leaders, their necessary education and preparation for life.

I support the June 3 override because I want current and future Beverly students to have the needed resources, reasonable class sizes and other advantages that previous Beverly students have had. I will gladly "pay it forward" to invest in the education and opportunities for success of all our present and future Beverly students.

My yes vote on June 3 tells these students that their school experiences matter to me, and it tells me that Beverly can continue to be the superlative town in which we live.

DIANE M. KWIATEK

Beverly