According to the handout, "D'Alessandro and her hench-people deceived this community into merging their two elementary schools," and the "two schools will be dumped into an inferior building and forgotten!"

School committee members said they would press for state funding of a major renovation of the Maynard school. But the state is rewriting the laws that govern state financing of local school building projects, and the prospects for state money are uncertain.

One factor working against state money for the merged school is Cambridge's declining enrollment and high number of empty seats--which will exceed 1,700 next year.

But D'Alessandro and others say they are hopeful the merged school's ambitious academic program will convince state officials to support the project.

After a process full of controversy--from the original vote to merge to heated steering committee meetings about location and money for renovations--school committee members urged renewed enthusiasm last night.

Committee member Alfred B. Fantini, who supported the measure, said committee and community members need to rally around the merged school, which has yet to be named.

"I can't be the fullback and get the ball with the front line thinking I can't gain five yards," he said.

According to committee member Joseph G. Grassi, "there is a beautiful flower that is blooming in Area Four, and that is the Maynard school."