What is clear from the articles and the meeting notes is that this "hearing" was a mere formality, a speedbump on the road to having a sprawling collegian campus along the Schoeneck.
It was only to hear residents' input. As JD Malone wrote in the Express-Times, "According to project manager James Lynch, the school will be bid in April and awarded in late May. Construction begins in June and is to be completed by July 2009."
So not only is it too far past the point where the NASD will consider alternative building options that are more cost effective, it has also locked into a single set of building plans. These plans may have items removed, such as the pool if the Board decides to, but mostly this is what we'll get.
While shrinking an 8.5x11 down to this size doesn't give the clearest image, what you can see is the grand entranceway, center right. Note this space between the classrooms allows for about 1.5 basketball courts. The far right rooms are the traditional classrooms. The middle is admin, cafeteria, and library, and far left is athletics, theatre/drama, music/choral, art and shops.Again, most of the space is not what I'd consider essential to learning (a classroom).
I won't revisit in detail the points I've made earlier, but this is a big expense for two grades. If I had a home anywhere in the Gardens or Friedenstahl area I'd be very concerned about traffic. I am concerned about how we are going to get our children to two different places at the same time (depending on bell schedule of each of the four levels at NASD). And I'm very concerned that the spending can't be met by tax revenue and a voter referendum will result in future cancellation of student activities and classroom needs.
What do you think? Again to be heard you must email the admin and board or attend the next School Board Meeting (1/22/07 at 7:30 p.m.)
12 comments:
Living on Friedenstahl and Schoeneck, East Lawn and 191 AND Walnut street sections. Will be a mess. The traffic will be so far back up at either ends more so with a traffic light or you will never be able to cross traffic. Or even trun off Broad St to head towards Tatamy. This was mention at a school board meeting along with traffic speed and the back ups at the 5th street stop sign, more so going fast south up at the hill and not be able to stop in time for the traffic that is stop or busses loading. Dr. Lesky mention the traffic on these roads and back ups would need be addressed to the township. I am very concerned given the location of these school for families with children at more than one building. Plus add on all the rush hour and students driving to school. Not a very good choice given with the infrastructurea as is. But again as you mentioned the public can comment on plan...there are no other planning options this is already a done deal design from the admin and board.
Isn't it ironic how the tables have changed. A while back the superintendent of Nazareth threatened he would leave the district if not named super. Well, he got his wish, along with the support of the community. It seems to me he has alientated not only the public, but the teachers who serve under him. As long as he has a school noard that supports him, he will continue to implement his own game plan. So, it seems to me if people and teachers are now crying for change, it needs to start at the next school board election.
Where are the 600 PLUS who complained about a mere $2 million borough project???
Families are/ were moving here because of our low taxes and excellent education programs.
Wake up, folks. Soon our taxes will be high and our quality education low . Then families will start moving elsewhere and we will be stuck with alot of tacky housing developments and Taj Mahal school buildings.
How our senior citizens ever managed to succeed, learn to live together (teamwork), live healthy, long lives, hold a job------without swimming pools in the school , artificial track aand field surfaces,chandeliers in the school lobbies!?! They deserve a gold medal . Insted we sock 'em with great big taxes
First, while technically Lesky is correct in that traffic is a township issue, since the NASD is going to be the cause of the issues, you'd hope they are working on these probable problems and issues now while it is being planned.
My guess is the township won't incur any costs to fix them, however. Any lights, etc., they will want the NASD to pay for. It gets further complicated as I believe Tatamy Road and East Lawn Road are both state roads meaning you also have to deal with PADOT.
I think the difference between the situation at the Borough and the NASD is that the people felt they had an opportunity to discuss and impact the outcome with the Borough officials, whereas the "process" here at the school is viewed as a formality and like it or not it is going to happen.
It is a shame, but in speaking with people that very much appears to be the reason why you don't see them turning out as they did this summer.
The other aspect to consider is that with the NASD the population expands into the townships, and people who have moved here or have long commutes are not as in-tune with what is happening (or has happened in the past). My guess is many more people will be upset when they get their revised tax bills.
Of course, then it will be too late.
Thanks to everyone for their comments.
Sadly, as true as it is and you stated it correctly.
Many more taxpayers and public of nasd feel strongly...never seems to matter: they are going to do what they want to do anyway OR it already a done deal. This is what with action might be able to alter the viewpoints if public comment can and will be heard, listen too and seriously consider before projects are given the final okay.
WAKE UP!! The population in this school district is exploding. One of the reasons people move here is because of the excellent school system. there could be an argument made(wrong as it would be)I suppose that if the school administration allowed the quality of the education to decline then no one would want to move to the area and many of the families that care about the future of their children would move out. If they didn't build a new school and allowed class sizes to go to say 30 or 40 we could keep the taxes very low. Eventually the class size would drop back down, when everyone moves out.
As far as the pool goes; Why do you think the overwhelming majority of school districts in Pennsylvania and New Jersey have swimming pools? Is it because of a grand conspiracy to make it hard on senior citizens? The pool is long overdue here.
A few points:
The population is larger, but not booming, it is roughly 100 students per year over the past seven years (or roughly 8 kids per grade) and home sales are now slowing.
Why don't we put the pool where it belongs - in the new athletic facility that is scheduled to be built next?
It would make more sense, be more accessible to more students, and be more efficient as lockerrooms, trainers, etc., could be shared between the pool, gym, and whatever else is being put in there.
I'd also contend you assumption that we have a high quality educational system. I agree we have a reputation for high quality education, but recent test scores have not supported the reputation. These scores indicate we are middle of the pack.
My biggest problem with adding wants is that we need to get the educational programs back on track. If we keep spending on niceties and forget about focusing on education we'll have extremely high taxes with little to show for it.
I don't want teachers or programs cut because the only way to avoid a referendum vote is to eliminate them or gamble that the taxpayers will support raising their own taxes by more than 5% to keep them.
We've gone many years without a pool. Would it be nice to have one, yes. Will it cost more? Yes. Can we afford it? No. Should we consider it when the new athletic facility is planned? Absolutely. But if you've moved here because your child is interested in competitive swimming, you haven't done your homework.
This MS discussion should not be about a swimming pool, it should be about what we are getting for the money we are spending. The pool discussion has virtually given the NASD a free pass. If they cut the pool they look like the taxpayer's savior, and what do we get? I've said it before - 30 odd traditional classrooms followed by lots of nice stuff - gyms, pools, auditoriums, entranceways, tv studios, band rooms, weightlifting rooms, team rooms, etc., etc., etc. for two grades - 7th & 8th.
I'm really beginning to believe that the people advocating the pool at this point in time in this location are really doing all taxpayers, students, and teachers a disservice.
In regards to the pool. Many people have expresed their dissatisfaction with the initial expense of installing a pool. But has anyone given any thought to the additional expenses for upkeep of a pool. Anyone who owns a pool knows it is absolutely essential to properly monitor the chemical balance of the pool or risk an outbreak of algae growth or other problems with the water. The chemicals needed to insure this balance are not inexpensive, and it MUST be monitored on a daily basis, year round. In addition, the heating and ventilation costs will increase if they expect to use the pool for classes year round.....and not just in the pool but in the locker rooms where student's will be changing. Insurance costs will increase becuase of the very nature of increased liability....especially from dangers associated with slipping and falling on wet surfaces. Unless the facility is meticulously upkept you also run the risk of fungal infections, especially athlete's foot. In addition, class sizes must be kept to a minimum unless there is going to be more than one teacher present
becuase of drowning risks. Of course, the district could always hire an aide to be present with the teacher, but this in itself is an added expense when you factor in salary and benefits. When the district finally does produce an expense factor for the pool, they must also include for the public's view the ongoing expenses that will go along with the pool's upkeep.
I agree that if, and this is a big IF, a pool is to be built, then it should be done at the high school where it will be of most use.
However, with the budget in the state it is in, spending the few extra million dollars when we need basic classrooms is absurd.
The real question in my mind, is where has all the new additional tax revenue that has been coming into the district been going? I see new houses popping up all over the place, and each one has a tax bill of at least $6,000 per year, if not a bit more. So one hundred new homes means an additional $6MM+ in tax revenue, and I know there have been a lot more than 100 homes built in the past few years.
So, where has that money gone?
Taxing us into oblivion to buy a bunch of nice to haves is not the answer.
If your child is part of the swim team, I can understand why you want them to have good, dedicated facilities. However, you need to take the blinders off and realize that this has a major impact on all your friends and neighbors.
Based on what I read here, there are also other potential hidden costs that we still have not realized, specifically around road improvements that NASD will most likely have to fund.
Yes, we need more classroom space. Our schools are bursting at the seems, and I am willing to pay for that. But, I am not willing to put myself (and all of you for that matter) in heavy debt for the next decade or so just so we can say we have this sparkling new facility with a fancy pool, just like every other district.
The only difference is that most of those districts have a large commercial base that helps offset the tax burden and we have a handful of cement plants and truck terminals.
And those cement mills and terminals are not in the "boro". Can you imagine the tax burden on the residents of the actual borough of Nazareth? It is exasperating to think about having to pay the increased taxes that we will be hit with. What are we going to do?
To anon 9:00 pm:
I think the people who fought against the proposed municipal building thought they had a fighting chance because they knew that at least a few of the council members were on the side of the citizens.
I'm not sure what the count is, but from what I understand I guess none of the board members are against the proposed building plans. It's alot to go up against.
But maybe a well organized citizen's group (big in number) could have an impact on decisions to be made?
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