Why This Should Matter
To the Editor:
Seven months ago, the Berlin School Board voted to consolidate the elementary schools to reduce the cost of running the District.
After that historic (or infamous) vote, we discussed the building project which had been on hold since 2005 while we argued the merits of consolidation. Since we could not come to an agreement on the building project, we could not include the building referendum with the budget vote in June. We then set a goal of presenting it to the voters in October.
Time rolled on, and we missed the deadline of October so we set a goal of December. In order to meet this goal, we needed to vote on the project at the October 21 meeting.
So what happened? October 21 has passed and the project was voted down, 4 to 3. Why should this matter to you!
Due to the Board’s inaction, we have missed the building season. That means that inflation will drive the costs up a million dollars, which will come out of your taxes!
Also, the New York State Education Department offered us $1.8 million in additional aid if we consolidate. They may not be so generous next year. That means that this will also come out of your taxes!
The District is also out of compliance with safety and health codes as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act. The State Education Department has put off taking action on this because we were “acting in good faith by diligently working on the building project.”
By not voting on the referendum, the District has been put in jeopardy. If State Ed. feels that we are not acting in good faith they have the power to pull the certificates of occupancy on our buildings. This effectively shuts down the District.
Our Superintendent has talked to State Ed. and they would consider allowing the high school and middle school to remain open. This would allow us to have high school and middle school half the day and elementary school the other half of the day. This would seriously affect family schedules and significantly affect the students’ education. I can’t imagine anyone in the District being happy with this option (This is not a scare tactic).
The reason that the project was voted down was that, “We could not afford it.” To put it politely, this is hogwash. The consolidation would save the District somewhere between $800,000 and $1.3 million annually in operating costs.
It would have cost the taxpayers approximately $350,000 annually in bond payments to become code compliant; it will be more next year. This is not negotiable – if we don’t do this voluntarily, State Ed. will force us!
The rest of the project would cost an additional $220,000 annually for a grand total of $570,000 in bond payments. In other words, the project would cost you nothing!
There is no excuse for this being voted down. This vote has put the entire District at risk, and we are going to pay for it.
As 1/7th of the Board, I apologize for what our inaction has cost you and your children
Sincerely,
Jeffrey M Paine