A reader e-mailed The BatBlog details of tonight's School board meeting...
There will be a special board meeting on Monday November 21st at 7 o'clock at the Greater Clark administration building for the purpose of approving 1028 Resolutions for 3 proposed projects:
Northaven renovation project $6 million Projected tax impact 1.97 cents/ $100 AV
Charlestown Middle project $7 million Projected tax impact 2.3 cents/ $100 AV
River Valley project $9 million Projected tax impact 2.96/ $100 AV
Once the Board passes this (which they will) the community will have 30 days to gather signatures for or against.
This $22 million in bonds is in addition to the $8 million the board approved a few months ago.
The decision about what to do with Maple and Spring Hill won't be made until spring and could possibly mean more bonds.
Go to gcs.k12.in.us to view the agenda although no specifics are given
So for those of you NOT PAYING ATTENTION...they want to take out an additional 22 million less that SEVEN months after the 8 million they asked for in April. According to the administrator's estimates in the April Resolution hearing, the cost of enclosing all three schools according to code would be 2 million per school over three years...so if my math is correct that is six million (2 million per school) x 3 (years) = 18 million. SO WHY ARE THEY ASKING FOR 22 MILLION? THAT'S 4 MILLION MORE THAN ESTIMATED MERE MONTHS AGO!!
For the April 5th meeting at which the 1028 Resolution was approved there were fancy PowerPoints and lots of information put out there for the public to see what the money was being spent for. Now, there is NO INFORMATION!!!! Nothing has been posted on BoardDocs, nor is the meeting published on the Greater Clark County Schools Facebook page.
It appears to me that Superintendent Melin and the school board are attempting to circumvent the voice of the voters. A referendum was soundly defeated to fund these projects but Melin and the board apparently are using a technicality to go forward anyway.
ReplyDeleteThe residents and voters have shown they have little faith in the decision making of this administration...the debt is disturbing. It will be interesting if there will be a petition to stop this spending and the reception it receives...
How many signatures are needed on the petition to stop the bonds?
ReplyDeleteThe sad thing is that these projects are desperately needed, but the lack of transparency will prevent anything ever happening.
ReplyDeleteDon't trust any organization that wants to spend your money without telling you why or how.
ReplyDeleteYeah there is very little trust among those who pay attention to Melin and the board. Unfortunately on a whole very few people pay much attention to the goings on at GCCS,,,and that's what they count on to further their agenda...
ReplyDeleteI pay attention and am happy that they are investing in our schools and our children.
ReplyDeleteEverybody myself included wants money invested in our schools... that's not the issue bonehead.
DeleteThere needs to be transparency and wise decisions made with the investments. This board and administration hasn't shown or earned the public's confidence that it can do either...
You just called a reader a bonehead who respectfully stated their opinion. Nice...
DeleteYeah that was nice...I agree.
DeleteDone with your blog. You have become petty and divisive. Bye.
DeleteBatboy can stand it when a girl stands up to him
DeleteDone with you too HT.
DeleteGood Bye !!!
DeleteAre they building new classrooms and hiring additional teachers
ReplyDeleteat the mentioned schools, or just wasting lots more tax money stupidly?
I am not sure why they were called a name for stating their opinion? But nonetheless I am not sure your assumption is correct about the "public's confidence". Maybe there are a handful on a certain Facebook page and on the CCC who are never going to be happy with anything the Board does, but I for one know that they work tirelessly to make sure that GCCS and the children are their number one priority. I commend the board for their hard work and dedication when they clearly have another job and family they juggling. I think the public spoke loud and clear to those who keep trying to tarnish currently sitting on the board. Obviously if they had faith in Kelly Datillo they would have voted her in. JMO
ReplyDeleteThe point isn't about whether money should be invested in the schools for the kids...
DeleteThe public with the overwhelming rejection of the Referendum showed their lack of confidence in the administration and board to spend the money wisely....The people have spoken loudly and clearly on that matter.
The initiative passed unanimously last night... Citizens have 30 days to remonstrance with a petition....
ReplyDeleteThe money is earmarked for changing the named schools from the open concept to the more traditional setup which involves building new classrooms I suppose...
Just to clarify, the first phase is a petition to request that the proposals be subject to the Petition and Remonstrance process. This requires 500 taxpayers to sign within the next 30 days. If they do, then the signatures are verified and Phase II begins. During this phase people can sign a petition for the projectsame or a remonstrace against. Whichever side gathersthe most signatures wins.
DeleteIn my opinion all the public heard the last time was "raise property taxes". They really were not concerned about whether the Referendum was needed or not. If Citizens want to petition the decision, that is their right, but I am confident it won't make a difference. I think once the public sees the positive changes they will kick themselves for not voting for the improvements sooner.
ReplyDeleteExactly what Lisa said, I'm happy to pay my share and I don't have children in school. GCCS board is doing an excellent job.
ReplyDeleteAgree
DeleteSo according to the news only half of. $$ are going to renovate open concept schools. Why are they spending $ on adding rooms to Northaven? Anticipating busing Maple and Springhill students to there perhaps?
ReplyDeleteAlso if safety is such a priority why all the $$$ on radio and tvs, furniture that all should see in Athletics dept.etc for high schools etc. All the while the amount of catering that is brought in at admin and elsewhere is sickening. These people are taking us to the cleaners while feigning like its all about an "intruder" Why the hell was a little student from Northaven, last night on the news about this, talking about an intruder? The folks driving this narrative around her should be ashamed. Fear tactic but obviously not a priority ahead of pet projects. Wake up people please!
Your post are always recognized because you sing the same old song. Sour grapes.
ReplyDeleteThat poor little girl didn't think up the idea of an intruder coming in by herself. Adults have worried her for the sake of their own agenda.
ReplyDeleteKeep pouring money in the local schools and the test scores keep going down. Not to mention the overpaid and mostly useless number of administrators. There is no correlation between money spend on state of the art school and improving test scores.
ReplyDelete^^^^^
DeleteTHIS !......
Big'st $$$-pig go'n.....thieve'n sunsab****'s.....
Well, like I always say if you can do a better job, go for it. I am sure if you were in one of their positions (if you are qualified), you would turn down the pay they are receiving. lol!
DeleteRec'n my MAIN point is,IMO it the 1's 'at do the actual WORK (teachers) 'at deserve more $$....high'r ups,most of'em is do-less deadweights....I like'n 'em to a Kimber...HIGH'ly OVER-rated, an' GROSS'ly over-priced....
DeleteIf I could x'tort $$ out'a everbody in'a dang County.....jus' cuzz I want'd sumthin....sheet....I'd be shizz'n in high cotton....
need ta learn ta operate on whut they GOT.....at's whut I,countless others got'a do...
I should'a learn't ta be a thief 45 yr ago......but I jus' were'nt ever wired at'a way.....
New classrooms are being built at Northaven. Some believe the purpose is to close Maple and or Spring Hill and bus kids to Northaven.
ReplyDelete