Name Citizens Advisory Committee

(Ed,'s Note: The following was sent to the members of the school board and is printed here at the request of all the authors.)

We have no doubt that many of the people who voted against the school bond in the last election recognize that the physical facilities of the Garden City school system are in need of major repair and improvement. Most of the people were uneasy about the magnitude and other apsects of this particular bond, however, and voted it down.

Regardless of the reasons for the bond's defeat, the need for a bond should still be paramount on your list of priorities. The discussions, publications, and slide shows that preceded the vote, many of which originated with the School Board, dramatized the need to the community for long overdue building repairs and upgrading. The Board also warned of enrollment increases (yet to be satisfactorily quantified) and the strain they will place on the school system. Rejection of the bond doesn't eliminate either of these pressing needs, and they will not be diminshed until a bond is accepted.

To that end, we call on the School Board to establish, without delay, a Citizens Advisory Committee whose primary objective will be to recommend a revised program for school construction and facility improvement for the Board to submit to the voters as early as possible in 1998. A committee can provide a fresh look at facility needs, reexamine the assumptions underlying the defeated proposal, and attempt to resolve some of the unanswered questions raised prior to the last bond vote. It can marshal other community expertise to assist in this effort and allow the Board more time to devote attention to other school system matters.

The committee should be comprised of people experienced in planning and undertaking major construction projects, people knpwledgeable about school system needs and operations, and others whose background and skills would contribute to the responsible development of a revised proposal. We propose that the presidents of the property associations and the president of the PTA be empowered as a special nominating committee to propose members of the Citizens Advisory Committee.

Advisory committee members should be recommended for Board approval without regard for their geographic residence in the community. However, no more than 5 to 7 people should comprise the committee. A larger group would be unable to move quickly to achieve the stated objective, A broader spectrum of the community could be called on as needed for assistance and to serve on subcommittees to address matters requiring special expertise.

We recognize that many details of the defeated plan have merit and the knowledge acquired in its preparation should be the foundation for any new proposal. In order to draw on that knowledge, it is essential that a School Board member who fully understands the details of the past bond proposal and who is dedicated to implementing a revised program program, provide continuous liaison and support to the committee.

Extra care needs to be exercised to insure that this committee has immediate and continuing credibility. That will only be realized if it possesses the skills identified above and it is able to operate with an essential level of independence from the School Board.

We urge the Board to discuss this proposal and to take action toward its implementation at your next meeting.

Ann Amengual, Director, Garden City Nursery School
Steve Dooley, Past President, Eastern POA
Marilyn Falvey, Life Member, PTA; Founder of CADD
Nancy Fredericks, Chair, 1994 Long Range Planning Committee
Peter Gall, Former Mayor
Thomas Lamberti, Former Counsel to the School Board
John Maulk, Member, Village Planning Commission
Jack McGowan, Former Mayor, Former School Board Member
Jerie Newman, Past President, Estates POA; Past President PTA
Hamilton Smith, Chair, Village Planning Commission
Morton Yuter, Past President, Estates POA

More on the Defeated Bond

There were several reasons why, in my opinion, the bond issue failed by a two to one margin: 1) the arrogance of the board 2) the slipshod method in which it conducted its business 3) the failure of the board to eliminate enough "wish list" items submitted to it by the Superintendent of Schools 4) the refusal of the board to postpone the vote until all the requested contractual amendments had been made 5) the selection of only two contractors without giving consideration to others and 6) the leaving of $2 million of state aid on the table because of the early vote.

Further, based upon feedback received by me from a smattering of citizens, senior, middle aged, young people with children in the schools and even PTA members, this bond issue didn't have a ghost of a chance from its inception. The observation that the criticism was muted does not take into account that many citizens suffer in silence until it is time to vote.

Many, including myself, felt that this board was not about to change its mind in any respect no matter what was said. I predicted to a regular attendee of board meetings several weeks before the vote that this bond was doomed based on the calls I was receiving. Citizens no longer talk to the POAs because they consider expressions of their views to POAs a waste of their time. The opinions of the POAs are representative of the officers and directors rather than the people at large.

I predict this "stealth" revolt will continue until the citizens are given the ability to vent their feelings in ways that are currently not available.

Joseph A. Calamari