What Should We Do!
10/27/08
To the editor,
Another night of discussions for the BCSD BOE [10/27/08] and we find that again we may have been lead astray when it comes to the money. This time the majority of the BOE members had the fortitude to question the proposed cost savings and the 1.5 million dollars that was put into a Health Benefits reserve account last year. With conflicting advice and a clear lack of understanding of the costs apparent at this meeting it’s a wonder that the President and two BOE members were so animate about getting something in front of the voters at this time. Even if we have no idea what the true costs are, and we really don’t know if we are moving forward with the correct plan that will ensure that all health safety and codes are in compliance with State regulations these BOE members thought it a good idea to force the issue. I can’t believe that the President of the BOE would and did say that playgrounds are not a necessary part of the elementary student’s education and since the state does not require playgrounds then the PTO or some other community group should cover that cost? All this discussion is centered on the structure that makes up the school and has only just scratched the surface of what our children will need to be better educated in a consolidated school. What’s the rush, Jeff, Liz and Frank? These problems have been around for over 25 years, and you all have known about them but did nothing about it.
I commend the other four members of the BOE for doing the hard research and looking at all the promises with a skeptical eye. State Ed. has promised us funds above what we would normally be entitled to as long as they can classify the renovation project as a new school project. What? We are only looking at the bare bones renovations how does that classify as a new building. We will have a new set of classrooms and mechanical systems, but what about educational tools, a playground or quality space for the children. Will any of these things be addressed in this project. In these difficult economic times will we really receive more monies from the State to consolidate. Did anyone think about negotiating with SED? If they were so willing to “help us” with the consolidation and provide us with approximately 1.8 million dollars to close schools, what’s in it for them? The long term investment is and has been by the people of this District. These are our schools and our children that will be affected by all these plans. If we can’t seem to agree on what’s in the best interest of our children, and this renovation/new building project has been changed so many times that it no longer addresses the basic needs of the students, staff and taxpayers of this District, why are we in so much of a hurry to get something in front of the voters?
Funding this project is going to be a challenge. Instability in the global finance markets, the long term burden on the taxpayers, the effects on the students and staff, the basic cost benefit of consolidation is an unproven concept. And, lastly, why are we doing what we are doing. Has anyone come foreword to put down on paper what we are trying to do or accomplish? No! How does the BOE put to the voters a project without scope, costs, benefit, details or purpose and expect the voters to make a rational decision? Obviously some of the BOE members just don’t care! They must think that they can word the proposal in such a way as to deceive the voters into voting for this type of proposal out of some sort of misguided loyalty to a school building.
I’m glad that four members of this BOE were able to see this deception and voted “No” on the Building Proposal Monday night. It took courage and fortitude to push aside the rhetoric and continue the hard work that they have undertaken trying to balance all the competing interests in this discussion and come up with a truly workable plan for the future of this school district. I would really like to know why time and again our Interim Superintendent gives advice that seems to backfire on this school district? With all the money that we are paying for this “Interim” worldly advice it would be a breath of fresh air to hear and see some advice that doesn’t bend the current State laws and has some benefit to our community. I mean we are paying for it, you know!
Andy Zlotnick
Petersburgh
Concerned Citizen of the BSD