New Paltz has always struck me as place where honest open dialogue is valued and encouraged. I appreciate the evidence I have seen of this in the way Superintendent Rice and the New Paltz Board of Education have informed and involved the public about the proposed Middle School project for the past few months. They have made every effort to provide accurate and clear information to the community and provided many opportunities for input. This is what this community has asked of them and they have delivered. With that in mind I am surprised to see and hear so much inflamed rhetoric and misinformation out in the community about the proposed Middle School renovation project.
So let us look at some facts. You don’t need to be an architect or an energy expert to know that the current middle is school is literally bleeding heat in the winter and stifling hot in the summer. The building is a compilation of incongruous additions to an aging core structure that is in dire need of renovation. Everything from roofing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC and parking is a problem. Simply put, this building is not a suitable environment for the fine staff and talented students that work there every day. Most importantly, the learning spaces go against what we know about how middle school students learn best. The opportunities for flexible grouping of students, clusters of classrooms, and a technology rich environment are scarce. The building is not ADA compliant, the kitchen is inadequate to meet the needs of the district, and the building is incredibly difficult to navigate.
The district has done a fantastic job of providing the facts at http://npcsdms.edublogs.org/. I encourage each of you to read the site and come to the next forum (December 1 or December 9) and share your educated opinions with the Board of Education. I know they value our input.
There has been some confusing math out in the community about how much this project will cost. Rather than rely on rumor I suggest looking at the detailed data online. The project, while estimated at $51.46 million, will receive approximately $20 million in state aid. The net cost to the district is therefore closer to $30 million, and that is amortized over 20 years. A New Paltz home assessed at $297,000 would see an estimated increase of approximately $70 for the first four years of the bond. So, over the first four years of the bond repayment, the cumulative cost for the homeowner of this hypothetical home would be approximately $700. After that the retirement of other debts will offset the new bond resulting in no further increases for this project. Also note that the project includes a 25% contingency. If the project costs less, the tax levy will go down. It cannot cost more as the district will be committed to the amount approved by voters if the project should be accepted.
While this is an incredibly difficult time for all of us to be thinking about taking on more debt, given the double digit unemployment and the state of the economy, in some respects it is a good time. The district is looking at ways to delay the debt repayment. If that happens we will hopefully find ourselves in a better economic state when the increases do come. In addition, this is a great time to take advantage of very aggressive pricing from contractors that are bidding competitively for scarce work.
Detailed information on the financial impact on district residents is online at http://npcsdms.edublogs.org/files/2009/11/11-10-Board-Handout.pdf.
Ultimately the voters will decide on the project, whether it is by public opposition now or a public vote later. I’d much prefer the project to go to the voters so we can all make informed choices as to what we feel is best for our community. In encourage each of you to get informed and share your input with the Board.
Mathew Swerdloff
Gardiner NY
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