The BOE Plan as presented last Tuesday is on the right tract¬making use of the existing plants by additions, renovations and alterations. However, the approach¬demolition of three plant interiors¬has created a monumental Bond Issue and monumental construction involving gutting of buildings and disruption of the educational program. This is where the huge cost is.

As the community and its taxpayers ponder the $86 million cost, why not have a backup plan that does not involve gutting three of the schools? Such a backup plan could use existing rooms with present square footage with reduced students, even if it means adding new classrooms to the other planned rooms to compensate for the difference. Such a backup plan could leave Weber for the middle school and Sousa as an elementary school. These changes could reduce the cost further.

Now that there have been two well done presentations and the two plans have been published, let's get the backup plan resolved by having the BOE and the Concerned Citizens work together. Nobody wants a referendum defeated as nobody wants the state aid lost nor the students to suffer. So, why not take out the risk of "all or nothing" and have a backup plan approved by the SED and ready to immediately submit to the voters with the lesser costs if the higher costs are voted down?

The Concerned Citizens from throughout the community are willing to work cooperatively with all other interests to have a strategy in place.

Arthur H. Mittelstaedt Jr., Ed.D.

Member, Concerned Citizens