Guy Kempe's Letter to the Editor 01/14/10: The Project is Scaled Right

In consideration of the proposed middle-school project, let's start with a look at the current situation. There are not enough outlets in our middle school for the computers necessary to educate kids, let alone the wiring necessary for high-speed internet. Current classroom configurations are 30% below current state minimum requirements. As Susan Zimet said when running for a seat in the state senate, "Education will open doors and pave the way for good-paying jobs and quality of life. Our children must be provided with the skills and tools necessary to compete in a global economy." "It is our responsibility and obligation to provide a learning environment that is safe, conducive to learning and available to all."

1) In 2005, a state survey of the middle school said it was "questionable that the building can continue to serve the community for an extended period of time without major renovations." Because education is central to our core values as a community, doing nothing is not an option. The "band-aid" approach (repairs only) could end up costing us more than renovating on site - the cost is estimated to be $10 million every ten years or so - without improving building function and efficiency, resolving any of the educational, justice (ADA compliance), environmental and safety issues. Over time, it would cost us more and accomplish much less.

2) Renovating the school on the current village site is projected to cost $49.8 million. This choice may sound costly - extravagant, even - but I have come to understand it is the fiscally responsible choice. More expensive renovation concepts were proposed and considered by the school board, but the board chose compromise and took a middle road renovation-build, new-combination scenario. I am convinced that this project has been scaled to meet the needs of the community. Factoring in state aid, the local share is just under $30 million.

3) Building an entirely new facility elsewhere is estimated to cost $65 million, and that is without the additional cost of acquiring the needed land. Selling the current middle-school property would need to net a minimum $15 million to come close to achieving a comparable cost offset for the new building, which is an unrealistic expectation.

I think it is a good idea to re-integrate the district office back into the middle-school site, in the center of our community rather than on the periphery of the district. The current temporary offices cost nearly $100,000 a year in rent, a cost that goes away if offices are relocated back to the middle school site.

Here is the real bottom line: in New Paltz we take pride in caring for and educating children, K-12 and beyond. Let's not make it easy for elected public officials to turn their backs on public education now that their children have grown and gone off to private college. I understand that property taxes will increase somewhat, and proportionally increase taxes on the million-dollar homes of wealthy county legislators. But being a higher-tax community with excellent schools is not as bad as some other things that might be said of us.

Guy Kempe
New Paltz