With all the discussion going on with the County Council, Board of Education and citizens expressing their opinions, let's go one step further and talk about the new location of the new Bennett Middle School.
First of all, did you know that 90% of the land chosen and purchased for that school is in a flood plane zone, 90%!!!!! IF they build that school, do you also realize their intent is to create floating footers and more than likely there will be severe settlement to the structure.
Did you know Bennett Middle School was never submitted to be remodeled. It was not even an option. Did you know Matt Holloway told the Board of Education several months ago NOT to come back to the Council unless they had a "different design," yet he recently voted to move forward with the original design.
Do you know why John Hall voted YES for the Middle School projects, "for the votes." That's right, he's more interested in getting VOTES from the BOE when he runs for re-election. He actually does NOT support the Middle School proposal.
The, let's go back to Gail Bartgovich and her reason for saying no. How in the hell can any Council vote to sign a commitment letter when the Council has yet to see the 2013 Budget! How can ANY Council Member vote to do so that far in advance.
Since that day we have seen O'Malley state he wants to raise the sales tax to 7%, increase cigarette tax, liquor tax, flush tax, increase tolls and the list goes on and on but more importantly he wants each County to pay for the teachers pension, which will cost the taxpayers of Wicomico County close to an additional $4,000,000.00 a year. Tack on the $3,500,000.00 mistake on Bennett Middle School and oh, wait a second, let's not forget a County TAX INCREASE, which isn't enough to cover Bennett Middle School.
More importantly, don't you ever think for a second that we've forgotten about Pollitt's statement in which you will not only see a tax increase this year, you'll see several tax increases year after year just to help pay for Bennett Middle School, not to mention Parkside renovations and three other schools already on the books, yet no one in the Main Stream Media, the County Executive or the BOE are mentioning.
The politics of this entire thing is so screwed up, it isn't funny. Now, tomorrow you will see the Council Chambers LOADED with wet pants liberals begging for things that are not necessary. Don't you think its time you confront Matt Holloway and say, why were you against it and now for it? To those of you who do NOT support this project, you need to show up at that Council Meeting and be heard.
Wicomico County cannot afford this $100,000,000.00 School. In closing, (for now) I want to add some images from Bennett High School.
First of all, did you know that 90% of the land chosen and purchased for that school is in a flood plane zone, 90%!!!!! IF they build that school, do you also realize their intent is to create floating footers and more than likely there will be severe settlement to the structure.
Did you know Bennett Middle School was never submitted to be remodeled. It was not even an option. Did you know Matt Holloway told the Board of Education several months ago NOT to come back to the Council unless they had a "different design," yet he recently voted to move forward with the original design.
Do you know why John Hall voted YES for the Middle School projects, "for the votes." That's right, he's more interested in getting VOTES from the BOE when he runs for re-election. He actually does NOT support the Middle School proposal.
The, let's go back to Gail Bartgovich and her reason for saying no. How in the hell can any Council vote to sign a commitment letter when the Council has yet to see the 2013 Budget! How can ANY Council Member vote to do so that far in advance.
Since that day we have seen O'Malley state he wants to raise the sales tax to 7%, increase cigarette tax, liquor tax, flush tax, increase tolls and the list goes on and on but more importantly he wants each County to pay for the teachers pension, which will cost the taxpayers of Wicomico County close to an additional $4,000,000.00 a year. Tack on the $3,500,000.00 mistake on Bennett Middle School and oh, wait a second, let's not forget a County TAX INCREASE, which isn't enough to cover Bennett Middle School.
More importantly, don't you ever think for a second that we've forgotten about Pollitt's statement in which you will not only see a tax increase this year, you'll see several tax increases year after year just to help pay for Bennett Middle School, not to mention Parkside renovations and three other schools already on the books, yet no one in the Main Stream Media, the County Executive or the BOE are mentioning.
The politics of this entire thing is so screwed up, it isn't funny. Now, tomorrow you will see the Council Chambers LOADED with wet pants liberals begging for things that are not necessary. Don't you think its time you confront Matt Holloway and say, why were you against it and now for it? To those of you who do NOT support this project, you need to show up at that Council Meeting and be heard.
Wicomico County cannot afford this $100,000,000.00 School. In closing, (for now) I want to add some images from Bennett High School.
You tell me the last time you ever heard of a tennis match at night? The Shorebirds don't even get this kind of technology in lighting but the Board of Education FOUND the additional money in the High School Project to come up with a few hundred thousand additional dollars to buy lights for freakin tennis courts.
If you think for a SECOND they aren't coming up with pie in the sky ideas for a MIDDLE SCHOOL built in a flood plane with soil that CANNOT handle this kind of structure, imagine the additional funding that will have to be used to correct the BS purchase of land that should have never been bought in the first place.
Folks, these liberals don't give a sh!t what you think. They are buying that "swamp land in Florida", "the Brooklyn Bridge", you know how it goes. The Board of Education gets what they want and then, (like the images show above) they'll take chains and LOCK YOU OUT of their property that YOU paid for.
If you are against Bennett Middle School, GO TO TOMORROW'S COUNCIL MEETING AND SAY SO.
New Posts to fall below throughout the evening.
If you are for Bennett Middle School, GO TO TOMORROW'S COUNCIL MEETING AND SAY SO.
ReplyDeleteEither for or against GO, show you concern for once.
For the four saying we can't afford it, the other three are saying we need it. Those three should have to show why the four with financial concerns are wrong. We need lots of things in this county that we can't afford, besides a new BMS. We need more police officers and deputies, better roads, and much more.
ReplyDeleteOMG! Did the Board know 90% of the land for the new school was in a flood area? Why would they have chosen that?
ReplyDeleteWhat is with Salisbury building multi-million dollar public buildings on cranberry bogs and flood plains? Some "good ole boy" LLC must own this land as well-we should at least be able to know what person we are making rich with our taxpayer money. Pathetic.
ReplyDeleteThe roads entering and leaving the already purchased site in no way can handle the proposed traffic that a new school will bring. Not once has this exspense ever been addressed. I have no ideal...but would guess it would be several million to upgrade S. Divison and address adding a light system there on Rt. 113...maybe more? It just keeps getting better and better the more we discover.
ReplyDeleteWhat in the world do lights on the tennis courts at BHS have to do with anything?
ReplyDeleteWhy not build one when the funds are available, and keep it on the same property? There is plenty of space for a new school, right where the old one is!
ReplyDeleteI overheard John Hall saying he was glad the middle school didn't go through. I thought, what a jerk, he voted for it. Now I understand why.
ReplyDelete3:07
ReplyDeletethe point is the designers and beaurocrats design these monuments to themselves and we end up paying for it. the point is none of this is needed. tell the crying parents you could spend $50 mil and get one heck of a nice facility this is the problem with the design. its crazy yet we keep going down this path that we cannot redesign. throw it out give the designers a budget that works and bid it out competitvely. you could have this done in 6 months
3:07 PM
ReplyDeleteIf a county spends hundreds of thousands of dollars on unnecessary lights for a high school tennis court, why would you think their expenses at a middle school would be reasonable? It shows lack of judgment and fiscal responsibility.
BMS is resting on the backs of the future. We need police, fire fighters and educators also, where would we be without them? This county has a huge student population and in America it is deemed that every child has access to an education until they reach the age of 21. As far as lighting at the tennis courts that is pretty standard I recall paying to play in the park at night and the place was pretty full most evenings. Teachers in this county have done what was asked of them. Their pay and advancements have been on hold for 4 years,they are contributing more to their retirement and jumping thru the hoops the board is putting them through.Personally I think they are doing their part, for the most part the majority seem like true professionals.
ReplyDeleteI wonder as to who performed the Civil soils inspection and thought the ground would hold this building structure. Seems the taxpayer took it on the chin again. Seems that there has been 8 million plus spent and the tax payers have nothing to show for it. I wonder how much a new prison will cost us?
Can the people who have children put their extra money in the pot to finance this building? I have never had children, have paid my taxes for over 40 years and never complained, but I don't have any extra money. Some people have several children attending schools, somehow there has to be some equity to this equation.
ReplyDeleteWatch out County Council !!! I'm sure Rick Pollitt has told Andy Mackel to make sure it sounds like the County can afford this school. We can not at this time!!! Please do the right thing!
ReplyDeleteJoe,
ReplyDeleteTo add to your statement, Did they consider the flood insurance they WILL NEED for being 90% in the flood zone?
Also to point out, being in the flood zone has no laws that say you can not build there... Just more than likely you will flood during the 100 year storm which the eastern shore is due for in at least, now till 10 years from now...
they will need to raise fees, or taxes to cover the high flood insurance for being in the flood zone...
This to me, is like a boat in the water with a hole... you just toss money in it and the hole still stays...
Also they want funding from the govt and they need new schools to do this but it shows how stupid they are because they think a new school will = a good school when it should be students graduating = good school...
What a shame... Rick, And Martin has to go... The council member who needs votes has to go as well... you damn flip-flippers... Grow and show some balls, if you have the balls to screw us then have the balls to stand up for what you want to screw us...
Camden Yards was built from 1989 - 1993, for a price tag of $100 million.
ReplyDeleteIn today's dollars, that's around $170 million.
Camden Yards generates a crazy amount of revenue for Baltimore. Those tax dollars build schools and infrastructure. The confluence of people brings hundreds of jobs.
Are 2 BMS's going to offer the same rate of return as 1 camden yards? HECK NO!
Meanwhile, the bid cost to build a school has gone from $155/ft to $225/ft in the past 8 years. That's an increase of more than 44%. Ouch.
Oh - check this out: http://www.pscp.state.md.us/CIP/2012/FY%202012%20CIP.pdf
According to the state of Maryland, replacing Bennet has a priority of D with the state. It also appears that Wicomico County renovates their schools much less than the rest of the state.
This is a huge waste of money. I'm glad that I moved out of Wicomico County.
Listen, this is all about having access to the money and how to benefit from the people that have access. The elected officials get to prioritize where the money gets spent so businesses pay lobbyists to influence elected officials on where to spend the money. If you still remember all the bad loans made to Solar companies, that's a pretty good example. It doesn't matter whether the project itself is successful because individuals get paid to go through the motion whether the project fails or not. In some cases, they even get bonuses.
ReplyDeleteNow, there are only a handful of companies that build schools and large commercial projects. The economy is down so little commercial construction is going on. If you were one of these companies, where would you look? Right, it would be Government funded projects such as schools. I think what we are witnessing is a Governor allocating money from one fund (teacher pensions) to school construction, giving that money to Counties, then backfilling the pension shortfall by shifting some of it to the Counties.
If you care, research which (school) construction companies contributed to State elected officials. It would not surprise me to see that company end up being involved in the construction of these schools. Sure, the Governor creates jobs but only for the companies that are chosen.
I thought originally the high school and the middle school were to go side by side on the property they already owned? Who dropped the ball on that? Has anyone been into the new high school? There was so much money wasted it's crazy. Im sorry but schools do not need to be that fancy. At some point they need to figure out there is a difference between a need and a want. Many are having to get by with what they have until the economy improves. Everything is going up but our paychecks. Enough of the spending already the check book is empty!
ReplyDeleteThey have lights on a tennis court? Mardela hasn't had a real track for over 50 years. Pathetic!
ReplyDelete3:01
ReplyDeleteIf they build the school down on US 113 that would make it in Pocomoke area, almost in Virginia. I think perhaps you meant to say U.S. 13 S.
The current BMS is a sick building meaning it has toxic mold in it and students still have to go there.
ReplyDeleteWhat time and where Joe,....I will be there
ReplyDeleteMold problems? Give me a break. DELMARVA has mold problems (even in homes).
ReplyDeleteThe only thing sick is the post about BMS mold.
Next please...
i want to thank mr albero for keeping us in the real with all of this !!! what the heck would we do without sby news !!!i think i am gonna start looking into the 302 district and gtf outa wico
ReplyDeleteWe can't afford it. Even the three who voted in favor never said we could. They think there is a need means the same thing as there is money. Pressure shouldn't make the four cave in. If it does, they need to go.
ReplyDelete5:08 - Mardela had a chance to get a great high school with a nice track back when Salisbury Middle School was in the works. All you had to do was agree to send your middle school kids to SMS then back to Mardela for high school. You wouldn't hear of sending your precious kids into the black section of Salisbury to attend middle school and insisted on keeping Mardela just like it was - grades 6 - 12. I was at those meetings. That is why you still have your "pathetic track"! Can't have it both ways.
ReplyDeleteHere' s a real simple question. How do we fund a project that links the construction of a new high school with the demolition and relocation of the dilapidated middle school...then BUILD the high school PURCHASE land for the new middle school, IMPROVE the new site and THEN decide "oh gee our bad lets start over " talk about a waste of tax dollars and simple minded thinking .
ReplyDeleteThe right choice is always the one made with moderation involved. Take half from each side and see what you are left with. The schools and the economy suck so scale it way back.
ReplyDeleteNot to change the subject but whatever happened with the Stephanie Moses situation?
ReplyDeletefor mold: bleach and water. clean up the place. then fix the problem. get it?
ReplyDeletewhy did they agree to buy the land in fruitland if its not good..and my hope is they are stuck with it and NEVER get a dime for it...
ReplyDeleteThis is the most asinine and absurd move that I have ever witnessed.
ReplyDeleteHow can Wicomico County officials move on a project of this magnitude when the state is doling out mandates like there is no tomorrow. Don't they realize they are nailing the lid on their own coffin? They are boxing themselves into a corner.
It's pathetically short-sighted to not see how the education of our community's children enriches us all.
ReplyDeleteTo 7:25 Commenter - 'Enriches Us All'
ReplyDeleteI beg your pardon who ever you are - but the only one who is getting rich in this county are the educators. For goodness sake - if industry exited this area at lightning speed right after the record breaking educational Thornton funding - then you had better go back to the drawing board and reexamine your position. This is not rocket science.
I can tell by the undertones that are being exhibited on this site and other medias that a huge groundswell backlash - (another taxpayers rebellion) - is in the making. Just wait and see if I'm not correct. The educational establishment is entirely out of control as they are trying to control all taxpayers monies.
ReplyDelete7:25, while we all want to enrich our childrens lives through education, I just do not see how this can only be done with a new school.
ReplyDeleteBy saying this, then the children who attend West Salisbury Elem are destined for failure...your statement makes no sense. That school is well not in the best of conditions, dirty paint, cracked floors, not to mention it is located in a poor area of Salisbury.
The only sure fired way to enrich our children through education has to be started in the classroom.
Stephanie Moses was let go. I don't know the reason but I know she sent emails to a select few to let them know.
ReplyDeleteCorrection it starts at home.
ReplyDelete7:42 commenter
ReplyDeleteI agree and I wouldn't be surprised if the taxpayers hadn't already started to mobilize. I know in the neighborhood I'm living-in we have already had some serious discussions about organizing just this past weekend. With so many people out of work, even a small increase will be met with strong opposition.
January 23, 2012 7:52 PM
ReplyDeleteWTH is West Salisbury Elementary School??
I heard Stevie Prettyman is going to cave in and vote to build the new BMS? I hope my source is wrong!
ReplyDeleteI wonder which members of the council have or had kids that went to public school. Do the grand kids? What are we talking about here. A bunch of white kids whos parents are trying to stay in the lower middle class, some black kids and some illegals. A picture is worth a thousand words sometimes.
ReplyDeleteWhat is a legitimate expediture ? I can see a lot of the commenters can spot a bad allotment of county tax dollars or a bad investment... well all of you who are so sure that this is a raw deal speak up: what is a legitimate expediture of our collective money? Please educate me.
ReplyDeleteThe educational establishment is entirely out of control. There will be a TAX revolt in Wicomico County and it will make headlines across the USA.
ReplyDelete4:37 Camden Yards produce alot less money than you think for Baltimore. The Owner was promised a lot of money to stay there. Even the Maryland lottery is for the Md Stadium Authority. That money is for both stadiums. That money should go to the counties and help education. Not make the owners of the Orioles, and Ravens multi millionairs. It does provide jobs, but it isn't helping poor counties. The lottery and casinos money should go to help fund education and schools.The owners of the two teams just get richer, the rest of us suffer.
ReplyDeleteWhen I went to school at Wi Jr. Hi and Wi Hi - whenever the educational establishment needed money the teachers and administrators would pool resources and hold bake sales of various goods - (i.e. brownies, cakes, etc). Every now and then they would have Spaghetti dinners to help subsidize these improvements.
ReplyDeleteI would like to know whatever happened to the good old days when teachers salaries were in the $10k-$11k range and that was a plenty. Now - some are earning 6 digits with bennies and yet many of the graduates cannot even speak plain english or count.
For those for the middle school,wait until you have to pay for school buses to take your kids.
ReplyDelete10:02pm I used to have hair on my head, never ever wore glasses or a hearing aide, and walked without a cane. Those were the good old days.
ReplyDeleteTimes change, get comfortable with it.
An idea......
ReplyDeleteMove the high school students from Mardela to Salisbury--split them up between the 3 high schools. Make Mardela Middle and High a combination of Mardela Middle and JMB middle. If need be make renovations to Mardela to accomodate. Redistricting would probably need to happen but it would certainly save part of the $100,000,000 price tag.
I thought Lotto, Lottery and scratch offs were supposed to go towards paying for education and new school funding? If that money was going where we were told it was going, we wouldn't have a problem funding schools. Where is all that money going?
ReplyDeleteJoe,
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure where you received your Flood zone information, but I just checked the FEMA FIRM panel and the ENTIRE property proposed for the Bennett Middle School in Fruitland is completely within the "X" zone meaning that it is OUTSIDE of the 500 year flood zone. In fact, it is no where near a flood zone at all. Don't get me wrong here because I am 100% against the BMS construction at this time; however, I think the facts should be correct simply because the BOE will come up with some off the wall propaganda for developing this project backed by BS facts and I don't feel that we (as opponents) should stoop to the BOE's level of false pretenses.
I love this blog but I'm getting so tired of reading about bms everyday. I'll be glad when this thing is over. It's almost like having to see Tebow on sportscenter all the time.
ReplyDeleteWe're in a depression, and the debt problem is getting worse. No new "taj mahal" schools should be built until the economic conditions improve, The property-tax payers are squeezed dry--renters and welfare-breeders are always in favor of someone else paying for something for their little darling...
ReplyDeleteHow is it that families that are already getting food stamps also have to have breakfast lunch and dinner provided by the local taxpayer in school too, btw?