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Friday, September 28, 2012

A Letter To The Editor 9-28-12

Dear Taxpayers, On Oct 2, the County Council will have a final approval vote for the 12.5 million dollar bond for the continuation of the Bennett Middle School. The county will still have to fund over 40 million dollars in bonds for this project. The BOE and their public relation machine have done their very best in convincing the public of the need for this project. I agree a new building is needed to replace the old building. I do not agree with the methods that the BOE went about getting this new project and the costly design of the new building. The BOE for many years have neglected the maintance of the current building and the systems inside the building. They knew a new school was in the long term schedule and let the building run down. One of the major complaints was the lack of air conditioning in the building. This building could have been retrofitted with portable air conditioning units that do not require ducting. These types of units are being put into Pittsville Elementary School at this time. This could have been done years ago to help with the problem and extend the life of the building until a new school was build. The BOE choose to not do anything and waited to use the scare tactic on the public to say how bad it was in the school. The new school has the most costly design that can be imagined. The specifications are calling for the most costly elements that are on the market. The specifications are in some cases favoring one manufacturer over another. The other manufacturers are equal to the favorite, but are less costly and have the same guaranteed warranties. Attached are drawings from the BOE website that show some of the building elements that are costly and are not needed. Once the BOE got the public demanding a new building, they designed a building with costly elements. They figured the public wouldn’t figure it out until the building was done. Once the building is done, it’s too late to take it back. If the construction costs of new school projects are not put in check, the next new major school project will be approaching 100 million dollars. The BOE must understand that the taxpayers want these projects to be within a reasonable budget. The BOE does not have a blank check to spend on unneeded items on a school project. In order for the BOE to be made to pay attention, here are a few things that need to be done. Contact the county council members and voice your opinion to how you want your taxpayer money is being spent on school projects. Contact the BOE and ask for Brian Foret in the Facilities Department and ask him why our taxpayer money is not being carefully spent. This is the department where these projects start. They are in charge of overseeing the design on these projects. Ask him why we need all the extra items in a school project. Ask him if these extra items will teach our children any better. It may take a while to reach this department as they may not what to answer these questions. The more people voice their opinions to the county council and the BOE, the sooner we can get these construction project costs in line for now and in the future.

10 comments:

  1. Our children deserve the least we can do.

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  2. Anonymous said...
    Our children deserve the least we can do.

    September 28, 2012 9:33 AM


    WTH??? Please explain?

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  3. WTH?? Instead of calling Brian Foret, why don't you call your child's teacher and ask how you can help them.

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  4. Considering that only 50% graduate and 500+ attend summer school just to be considered graduates, Rick Pollit is right, they need a 24/7 Gov building. This Educator turned political hack will someday retire on a well paid taxpayer pension, and the terror will end.

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  5. Camden Yards was built for $110 million. Construction started in 1989 and ended in 1992.

    Is a Middle School equal to Camden Yards? Nope. That place has more than paid for itself.

    I understand that it was build almost 25 years ago. $110 million in inflation adjusted dollars is about $200 million. A middle school still isn't equal to half a Camden Yards.

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  6. Anonymous said...
    WTH?? Instead of calling Brian Foret, why don't you call your child's teacher and ask how you can help them.

    September 28, 2012 10:19 AM

    Why call Brian Foret? Call the Board Memembers, the County Council Members and Norman Conway.

    Call Stevie Prettyman and complain to her. She is the one the caved in to a special interest group and bought votes with your tax dollars.

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  7. Why would the BOE build something that is too expensive? They have nothing to gain.

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  8. Brian Foret could not make it in private business, just like Norm Conway and Dr. Freddy. They are taking us down the road to serfdom along with Ireton, Pollitt, O'Malley and Obama.

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  9. 11:35am Stevie Prettyman made this happen all by herself. Wow! I knew she was a powerful woman, but I just didn't know how powerful. Thank you Stevie.

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  10. The question is who WILL gain by building such a costly school, when nice schools are built across the bay and elsewhere on the shore for less?

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