Annie
Diamond Member
- Nov 22, 2003
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I really didn't know which forum to post this in. The other day I was substituting and one of the aids asked me which city I lived in, the district covers two. I told him and he gave me a list of 3 candidates for the school board elections, opposition to 3 currently running.
I know the district has money problems, I live in one of the two cities, but my school district is actually a 3rd one. Yes, confusing. I can't vote for the board of the district I sub in or live in. My district is with a 3rd suburb.
When I asked what the problem was, it seems that about 8 years ago it was decided that one of the 3 middle schools would have to have a new building. It was situated in the old high school building, built around the turn of the century. Updating would have been too expensive. All 3 of the middle schools were located in one suburb, mine. The other suburb is much smaller and not as wealthy.
Many wanted the old school razed and a new school built on the existing site. The students would have been split between the other two middle schools during the construction process.
3 school board members out of 7, argued that any new middle school should be located in the second suburb. They convinced one other to go along with them. So, 3 years ago a plot of land, literally on the boarder between the two towns, was chosen. That land cost nearly $7 million. The board then voted to make the new building "green" from construction to functions. The building portion included nearly an additional $4 million in construction costs, but the argument was that money would be saved in the long haul.
The school is now in it's second year. It's maintenance costs are running over $220,000 more per year than the other two middle schools, much older and with higher student populations. 100% of the students at the school are bused. The other two schools have no more than 20% bused. All the bathrooms and the kitchen are 'green' meaning they are supposed to be water saving. Guess what? Middle schoolers are aged 11-14. It seems they find amusement in passing their hand over the electronic eyes of the toilet, faucets, soap dispensers, and hand drying units. I mean, who could have predicted that?
Anyone else have such horror stories of waste? Any suggestions that are really useful?
I know the district has money problems, I live in one of the two cities, but my school district is actually a 3rd one. Yes, confusing. I can't vote for the board of the district I sub in or live in. My district is with a 3rd suburb.
When I asked what the problem was, it seems that about 8 years ago it was decided that one of the 3 middle schools would have to have a new building. It was situated in the old high school building, built around the turn of the century. Updating would have been too expensive. All 3 of the middle schools were located in one suburb, mine. The other suburb is much smaller and not as wealthy.
Many wanted the old school razed and a new school built on the existing site. The students would have been split between the other two middle schools during the construction process.
3 school board members out of 7, argued that any new middle school should be located in the second suburb. They convinced one other to go along with them. So, 3 years ago a plot of land, literally on the boarder between the two towns, was chosen. That land cost nearly $7 million. The board then voted to make the new building "green" from construction to functions. The building portion included nearly an additional $4 million in construction costs, but the argument was that money would be saved in the long haul.
The school is now in it's second year. It's maintenance costs are running over $220,000 more per year than the other two middle schools, much older and with higher student populations. 100% of the students at the school are bused. The other two schools have no more than 20% bused. All the bathrooms and the kitchen are 'green' meaning they are supposed to be water saving. Guess what? Middle schoolers are aged 11-14. It seems they find amusement in passing their hand over the electronic eyes of the toilet, faucets, soap dispensers, and hand drying units. I mean, who could have predicted that?
Anyone else have such horror stories of waste? Any suggestions that are really useful?