Most taxpayers are ignorant as to the workings of their school district and how priorities are set for spending their tax dollars. Despite having a 2004 planning document that predicted the current decline in enrollment and decrease in state funding (the 2004-2009 Capital Facilities Plan), the Edmonds School District opted to give its administrative staff raises this year. Now they are faced with cutting an additional $4.1 million to the $4.5 million they cut earlier this year.This is not surprising for a district that spent $2.5 million more for a piece of property than it's worth for their new administration building, has in the works a $100 million-plus high school for students that should be absorbed into existing schools, and pays its superintendent, Nick Brossoit, $202,758 a year. That's more than Gov. Christine Gregoire, who makes just $163,618 annually.
They do this along with a laundry list of other poor fiscal decisions because we let them. Until they can prove they can spend tax money like it was their own, get out and vote no on any school proposition or levy.
Defeat the Edmonds School District Technology Levy on May 20.
Claire Olsovsky
Bothell
9 comments:
Hooray for Claire! She hit the nail on the head. I hope the taxpayers are listening.
Way to go Claire. Hey Nick should have some real nice binoculars at that salary. You know, to go with the hip boots and trench coat.
I couldn't have siad it better! Please tke the time to inform your friends and neighbors about this issue. The truth can impact the vote!
And now they are cutting librarians to half time at the six lowest enrollment elementary school! Wow! One of the administrative pay raises would have paid for them!...but it's all about the kids isn't it???
I like the tone of your article Claire but where is that you think 1350 LHS students should go? "Absorbed" into existing schools? If you divide up the students currently at LHS and distribute them among the other schools it would look like this
EWHS 1765 + 450 = 2215 Students
MDHS 1457 + 450 = 1907 Students
MTHS 1538 + 450 = 1988 Students
Last question, How i the world does overcrowding our current school help anyone at all?
Do not forget Scriber. They will have a brand new building in Fall 2009. Oh, snap! Maybe that timeline was just a bit of advertising.
And of course, at the mere thought of not having their own brand new high school, the Lynnwood kids would have toddled off to the "home school" program.
To: Wednesday, April 16, 2008 6:25:00 AM
In order to do the math, you have to count the number of students coming in from the lower grades, which is smaller than the current high school population (i.e. declining enrollment).
I don't have the data to refute your numbers, but if the schools have the capacity, there is no "overcrowding". Closing a school is not a popular choice, but it is an option during tough financial times. Certainly, spending millions of dollars to build a new high school in declining enrollment should be reviewed.
I think the future is set for a high school to close in the future. If the student enrollment is dropping then (I'm A laymen) but that would mean future counts will be very low for our middle and high schools. Where are all the students moving into these condo's and apartments going? Not Edmonds I guess!
What's to "review"? The construction contracts are signed and the building is going up (did that construction workers strike get resolved?) The horse is out of the barn. We seem to be stuck with it.
Post a Comment