Let's Bond
If it all goes according to the District's plan, the communities of MSAD #46 will "get their turn" to bond. Over $30,000,000.00 worth. That's right, THIRTY MILLION DOLLARS. And at a time when the State is fussing over the elimination of school boards and superintendents in order to save from 100 to 250 million dollars over the next three years.
The whole issue about the decisions leading to the bonds for a new school for MSAD #46 can be compared to the State asking the voters to approve bond packages. Many of the bonds we are asked to approve are not any larger than the new school. But they are not decided by only a few hundred good and faithful servants.
No, they are decided statewide and at polling dates established by law and tradition. They are not slipped in on indiscriminate dates when it is unnoticed by those other than insiders.
I'm not suggesting that the referendum for the new school should be decided statewide. I am saying that the motives behind the voting date are meant to limit participation in the referendum to produce a desired outcome.
The public expects to make these kinds of decisions at the June or November election dates.
How often do you hear people express mistrust for State government? Would the mistrust lead to anarchy if the State played games with its bond voting like the school districts are allowed to play?
You can't fool any of the people all of the time.
The whole issue about the decisions leading to the bonds for a new school for MSAD #46 can be compared to the State asking the voters to approve bond packages. Many of the bonds we are asked to approve are not any larger than the new school. But they are not decided by only a few hundred good and faithful servants.
No, they are decided statewide and at polling dates established by law and tradition. They are not slipped in on indiscriminate dates when it is unnoticed by those other than insiders.
I'm not suggesting that the referendum for the new school should be decided statewide. I am saying that the motives behind the voting date are meant to limit participation in the referendum to produce a desired outcome.
The public expects to make these kinds of decisions at the June or November election dates.
How often do you hear people express mistrust for State government? Would the mistrust lead to anarchy if the State played games with its bond voting like the school districts are allowed to play?
You can't fool any of the people all of the time.
posted by Art | 3/07/2007 06:15:00 AM
5 Comments:
Nice scare tactic Art! You know how this game is played. Dexter has been in the school construction pipeline for funding for many years now. It's not like we would save the state $30 million if the school was turned down. The state would simply re-allocate the $30 million to different projects in different communities for their new school. Just like the last time Dexter dropped the ball. The fact that you don't live in SAD#46 and that you don't have children in the district tells us that you only have a selfish & angry interest in a negative outcome. As for Mel, ask him how his daughter is enjoying the mold & cold of what is now Dexter Middle School. Maybe we should re-name it Mel/Art Jr. High if you get your wishes and we lose the new school. The smells and darkness would be appropriate!
To “Anonymous”,
The “smells and darkness” of cowardice are all over you. You are typical of those in the system who use kids to further their own purposes. You hide behind kids while you attack parents from behind their backs.
It is wrong to use someone else’s child; especially when it is clearly meant to imply revenge for a parent’s opinion which is critical of your school system.
The biggest single reason cited by parents for not being more involved in school business, is concern that their kids will be singled out and not get the success they deserve.
You and yours have no children of mine in the schools to attempt to intimidate me with, but should you continue these practices, and your identity be revealed; there’ll be hell to pay.
Count on it!
I have been following this commentary for a while now, and feel I need to speak out.
1. This sounds like a very clear threat, Art. The fact of anonymity is supposed to insure confidentiality, and your implication is clearly, and unarguably a threat!
2. This is supposed to be an opportunity for people to respond to Mel and Art's comments, at least as far as I can read. How come when someone writes in favor of the school, with accurate comments and facts rather than opinions, they are denigrated and defiled?
3. One of the outstanding facts in this whole project is that if we choose not to take advantage of this opportunity, that $30 Million Dollars will be spent elsewhere, for someone else to have a new building, with updated technology, and clean environment.
4. The governor has his eyes on consolidating somewhere. If we don't, someone else will for us. Talk about taking local option away!
5. I hear comments about how everyone will miss the small schools in our district. If the governor has his way, (and I've no doubt he will to some degree) we won't have small schools anyway, and our students are likely to be bussed to Corinth or Newport/Corinna areas. hmmm, Newport school or Dexter school. I know which I would pick.
6. Many of the comments here have referred to lack of information, yet how many people have actually attended the meetings that have been made available? I've attended the public meetings, and I find it hard to believe there are only 350 people in the whole district!!! That's the number who attended both meetings. Also, at those meetings, several invitations were presented for people to become part of the process and have a say in what gets done; I didn't see people lining up to be on the various committees. I guess my thought is-what right have you to criticize if you were not part of the process? If people spent as much time on the committees as they have writing on the blog, maybe there would have been a different outcome; I doubt it. But I guess the bottom line for me is that they would rather sit back and watch and complain, than get involved and do something about it.
I've responded to this comment up above, in a new post, "Reading, Writing, Responding..."
I have only recently found this site and am amazed that you guys bother to post some of these comments.
Apparently Art was a school board member who now lives in another community, yet continues to have much to say about his observations in regard to the operation of the District #46, its Superintendent and current Board membership. I guess that's his right. Isn't he a taxpayer?
As a longtime Dexter resident, I also heard that one of our school committee members, Shawn Lancaster recently resigned. Then I read in the BDN that he had been elected in Garland to the SAD board.
It looks to me like he's still living in Dexter with his wife and family. Does anyone care what the truth is?
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