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Take a Reality Check

I attended the Nov. 6 School Board meeting and was very impressed by the way the Board had promptly addressed the contractual concerns of certain residents. I do not believe that anyone who has visited some of our schools can deny that work is needed to restore neglected maintenance and to beautify outdated facilities. On the other hand, I also believe that it is time for the School Board and others who have been campaigning for passage of the $50,012,023 bond to step back and take a reality check.

It has not been too many years since voters rejected a school board annual budget which contained only increases for salaries, educational enhancements, and periodic maintenance. We are now asked to approve a bond issue which will only address some of the deficiencies which are known to exist in the district. On top of the $50,012,023 asked for we are told to expect an additional $5,501,576 spread over the budgets of 1998-2003. We are also told that this amount is a lesser percentage than that which has been earmarked for capital improvements in the current budget. However, when combined with the additional costs for teachers, aides, utilities, computers, specialized software, library books, and maintenance (to name a few) which will result from the expansion of all the schools, future annual budget requests are certain to be greatly increased!

Therefore, I propose that the School Board revisit the bond budget yet again and delete from it at least $5,501,576 in "nice to have" enhancements. In addition, transfer all of the items in the Five Year Plan into the bond, prioritizing those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Wouldn't it be regrettable, if after all the work put into this effort to improve our schools, we should end up having to resort to austerity when exorbitant school budgets get defeated in future years.

Arnold J. Finamore