posted by Mike Madison at 9:43 AM /
Here is the schedule of upcoming public meetings with the Mt. Lebanon School Board on the topic of the possible renovation/reconstruction of the high school:
Wednesday, Jan. 14, 7 p.m., in the High School Auditorium: A public Community Forum.
Tuesday, Jan. 20, 7 p.m. at Markham Elementary School. A public neighborhood meeting.
Wednesday, Jan. 21, 7 p.m. at Howe Elementary School. Another public neighborhood meeting.
Thursday, Jan. 22, 7 p.m. at Jefferson Middle School. A third public neighborhood meeting.
And a special meeting of the Board will be held on Monday, Jan. 26 in the Fine Arts Theatre at the high school, for a board discussion of the project.
I assume that all citizens of Mt. Lebanon are welcome to attend any or all of these meetings.
The postcard that I received that lists all of these dates says: "The community will be presented with the latest cost estimates for the building alternatives developed by the construction manager and the architects."
I am optimistic that the Community Forum will *also* include discussion of the affordability of each of the options presented, as well as the affordability of other options. It is essential that the question of the high school facility be considered in the context of the overall budget of the School District, including anticipated revenues over the next several years, the cost of borrowing tens of millions of dollars in the current (bleak) debt market, and other substantial costs that the District will face over the next several years. The cost of *not* rebuilding the high school right now is an important and fair topic, but that is not the only issue on the table.
If you have an opinion about where your tax dollars should be spent in Mt. Lebanon, then go to one of these meetings and/or write or call the members of the School Board.
Posting comments on this blog is useful, but only up to a point. It's useful in the sense that many members of the School Board read this blog (they email me; they call me!), but no one can claim that this blog constitutes or reflects the will of the populace. Lots of people post anonymous or pseudonymous comnents, which we delete. Some people send private email to Joe or me, pleading that they object to a massive reconstruction of the high school on cost grounds, but also pleading for privacy.
This is one of those occasions where private ranting does no one any good. From endless conversations with various blog readers, I know that people are afraid to speak out publicly because they fear recrimination -- from friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches, assessors, etc. etc. Just about everyone in Mt. Lebanon sometimes seems to be afraid of someone else. This is one of strangest, oddest things about a community that claims to pride itself on civic engagement.
If there ever was a time to put aside your anxieties, this is it. The School District is planning to borrow and spend somewhere between ZERO and $200 million dollars on a major construction project, all of it payable in the end by the taxpayers. At least some of that borrowing and spending, and maybe a lot of it, is absolutely critical. But improving the quality of the educational program is critical too, as is fulfilling the District's pension obligations. If you're ready to rock and roll with the new building proposal, then speak up. If you have concerns about this project, then speak up. If you think that the same money should be spent but on different priorities, then speak up.
Just send your thoughts to the Board.
Wednesday, Jan. 14, 7 p.m., in the High School Auditorium: A public Community Forum.
Tuesday, Jan. 20, 7 p.m. at Markham Elementary School. A public neighborhood meeting.
Wednesday, Jan. 21, 7 p.m. at Howe Elementary School. Another public neighborhood meeting.
Thursday, Jan. 22, 7 p.m. at Jefferson Middle School. A third public neighborhood meeting.
And a special meeting of the Board will be held on Monday, Jan. 26 in the Fine Arts Theatre at the high school, for a board discussion of the project.
I assume that all citizens of Mt. Lebanon are welcome to attend any or all of these meetings.
The postcard that I received that lists all of these dates says: "The community will be presented with the latest cost estimates for the building alternatives developed by the construction manager and the architects."
I am optimistic that the Community Forum will *also* include discussion of the affordability of each of the options presented, as well as the affordability of other options. It is essential that the question of the high school facility be considered in the context of the overall budget of the School District, including anticipated revenues over the next several years, the cost of borrowing tens of millions of dollars in the current (bleak) debt market, and other substantial costs that the District will face over the next several years. The cost of *not* rebuilding the high school right now is an important and fair topic, but that is not the only issue on the table.
If you have an opinion about where your tax dollars should be spent in Mt. Lebanon, then go to one of these meetings and/or write or call the members of the School Board.
Posting comments on this blog is useful, but only up to a point. It's useful in the sense that many members of the School Board read this blog (they email me; they call me!), but no one can claim that this blog constitutes or reflects the will of the populace. Lots of people post anonymous or pseudonymous comnents, which we delete. Some people send private email to Joe or me, pleading that they object to a massive reconstruction of the high school on cost grounds, but also pleading for privacy.
This is one of those occasions where private ranting does no one any good. From endless conversations with various blog readers, I know that people are afraid to speak out publicly because they fear recrimination -- from friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches, assessors, etc. etc. Just about everyone in Mt. Lebanon sometimes seems to be afraid of someone else. This is one of strangest, oddest things about a community that claims to pride itself on civic engagement.
If there ever was a time to put aside your anxieties, this is it. The School District is planning to borrow and spend somewhere between ZERO and $200 million dollars on a major construction project, all of it payable in the end by the taxpayers. At least some of that borrowing and spending, and maybe a lot of it, is absolutely critical. But improving the quality of the educational program is critical too, as is fulfilling the District's pension obligations. If you're ready to rock and roll with the new building proposal, then speak up. If you have concerns about this project, then speak up. If you think that the same money should be spent but on different priorities, then speak up.
Just send your thoughts to the Board.
Labels: high school renovation
1 Comments:
The school board knows how I feel. The board needs to hear from more people. Taxpayers need to know about this new policy: http://www.mtlsd.org/district/righttoknow.asp
People also need to know about the closed-door sessions:
18-DEC-2008 and 06-JAN-2009.
Post a Comment
<< Home