Friday, February 5, 2010

Kevin O'Connor's Letter to the Editor 02/04/10: State-of-the-art Middle School

I support keeping the New Paltz Middle School where it is. I believe from almost any perspective -- land use, smart growth, economic development, safe communities -- you name it, it makes sense compared to building new elsewhere. When I look at the alternative of repairing the middle school, it really strikes me as throwing good money after bad.

I must say that I'm impressed by the dedication of past and present school board members who have volunteered their time to guide our school district and by the performance of Superintendent Maria Rice and Assistant Superintendent Richard Linden. Most have been at this for several years and I place a high value on their commitment, collective judgment and recommendation. They are now facing a lot of Monday morning quarterbacking.

When I look at the fiscal impacts, I see this as a real bargain. The math is straightforward. It is a $76M project when you add in the interest costs. The state picks up $31M to $20M for the capital and $11M for interest. Net local cost is $46M. Add in the existing capital debt, use the restricted capital reserve, factor in retiring capital debt and you end up with a real fiscal impact of 1.1% increase per year for only four years. For a median price home, this will cost you $163 more on average than you're paying now for each of the next 20 years and you get a state-of-the art middle school.

I spend a great deal of my professional time concerned about affordability issues and I'm a little surprised by all the fuss. We have had 3%, 5%, 7% or double digit increases in nearly all school operating budgets throughout the Hudson Valley every year for the past 25 years that I've been following it. This capital project will add 1.1% to the to the tax levy in only four of the next 20 years, offset by .7% decreases in two out of the 20 years. Frankly it's the operating budgets over the next 20 years that concern me.

I see this as an opportunity to invest in our future -- in our school system, our children and an important building located in the heart of our town. This is the essence of community building. I believe that having a first class facility in the middle of Main Street will be an asset to the town for the next half century. And with all the talk about the costs, I'd like to see the conversation expanded to capture the full array of economic impacts this renovation will occur. What are the various multiplier effects from a $49M construction project? What is the amount of disposable income spent in local businesses during construction and thereafter by students, teachers, staff, parents and visitors? How many jobs will be created or retained in existing local business by this investment in this location? For the next 50 years!

Sure there are still capital needs at our other schools. They pale in comparison in scope and cost and none of those buildings are located smack dab on Main Street. Only the middle school has an 80-year-old core and seriously flawed systems. I am also concerned that if we don't deal with the middle school now, the costs of doing so will increase dramatically. And who will pay? Our children will pay. Push this project off 15 years and it might cost $150M! The irony will be that the middle schoolers of today -- who will then in their late twenties -- will get stuck paying.

The sky is falling argument that the state will cut capital aid after they pledge it is really far fetched. Long before the state becomes derelict on its commitments in this category it will simply cut capital aid to any future school projects. The real danger regarding state aid is if we delay this project, there might not be any on the table. It's really another reason to do the project now.

The stewardship of our school district is our collective responsibility. We have elected and hired leadership who have put in countless hours and followed an exhaustive process over several years to put forth this proposal. I give that a lot of weight and I'm voting yes for the middle school renovation.

Kevin O'Connor
New Paltz

No comments:

Post a Comment