posted by Mike Madison at 4:10 PM /
Another candidate for School Board asked me to post his responses to the facilities questionnaire. The following is from Alan Silhol:
Our current High School, academics, athletics and fine arts facilities are in dire need of replacement and/or refurbishment. To meet these needs the School Board has directed our architects and project managers to prepare a preliminary set of plans and costs estimates to reflect a partial new and partial refurbished facility. This information should be available for review sometime in May, however, at this point in time the true extent and cost of this project are unknown.
As I have stated in public, my first priorities and responsibilities are to education and the safety of our children. It is essential that our district provide our teachers, students and administration with the facilities and tools they need to exceed our current level of educational excellence. As referred to above, safety, deals not only with a secure environment during construction, but also includes providing athletic and educational facilities which protect our children's health and welfare.
Other Stakeholders, such as your group, have expressed concerns regarding such issues as, historic preservation, environmental design, ADA compliance, cost, timing and pool facilities. While you may or may not agree with these priorities, it is imperative that each individual understands that the High School project is not the only issue which will impact our millage rate and that there is no guarantee that each stakeholder group will receive everything they are requesting.
I will not make false promises to win a vote, but I will tell anybody, (i) that athletics has always been and will continue to be a part of the High School project, (ii) a budget for the entire project has not been established and therefore, no allocation of funds for fine arts, athletics or education has been developed, (iii) I would welcome and support any efforts to further a public/private partnership, (iv) I would support any initiative to re- turf the stadium's field once it is established that this area would not be required as a staging area and when a solid plan is presented to enlarge the field to accommodate all sports, (v) all facets of the project, education, athletics and fine arts will be treated as equitably as possible and (vi) I will continue to work with any stakeholder to find solutions and build support and consensus for the project.
It is my hope that this election does not become a one issue campaign. When determining which candidate or candidates to support each individual should consider, all the issues which the next board will have to face, which candidate(s) have the experience to oversee a project of this magnitude and who will work best with the community to build consensus.
Our current High School, academics, athletics and fine arts facilities are in dire need of replacement and/or refurbishment. To meet these needs the School Board has directed our architects and project managers to prepare a preliminary set of plans and costs estimates to reflect a partial new and partial refurbished facility. This information should be available for review sometime in May, however, at this point in time the true extent and cost of this project are unknown.
As I have stated in public, my first priorities and responsibilities are to education and the safety of our children. It is essential that our district provide our teachers, students and administration with the facilities and tools they need to exceed our current level of educational excellence. As referred to above, safety, deals not only with a secure environment during construction, but also includes providing athletic and educational facilities which protect our children's health and welfare.
Other Stakeholders, such as your group, have expressed concerns regarding such issues as, historic preservation, environmental design, ADA compliance, cost, timing and pool facilities. While you may or may not agree with these priorities, it is imperative that each individual understands that the High School project is not the only issue which will impact our millage rate and that there is no guarantee that each stakeholder group will receive everything they are requesting.
I will not make false promises to win a vote, but I will tell anybody, (i) that athletics has always been and will continue to be a part of the High School project, (ii) a budget for the entire project has not been established and therefore, no allocation of funds for fine arts, athletics or education has been developed, (iii) I would welcome and support any efforts to further a public/private partnership, (iv) I would support any initiative to re- turf the stadium's field once it is established that this area would not be required as a staging area and when a solid plan is presented to enlarge the field to accommodate all sports, (v) all facets of the project, education, athletics and fine arts will be treated as equitably as possible and (vi) I will continue to work with any stakeholder to find solutions and build support and consensus for the project.
It is my hope that this election does not become a one issue campaign. When determining which candidate or candidates to support each individual should consider, all the issues which the next board will have to face, which candidate(s) have the experience to oversee a project of this magnitude and who will work best with the community to build consensus.
Labels: mt. lebanon school district; mt. lebanon school board; athletic facilities
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home