It seems that NASD just cannot spend money fast enough. Just one month after passing a 10% tax increase, the agenda for tomorrow night's meeting contains the following items:
IX. Item D: $1.2 Million for weight and team room renovations and expansion at the High School
IX. Item E: $1.0 Million for what is now described as a "culvert" connecting the new 7/8 building with the High School
IX. Item F: $0.9 Million for movable fixtures and equipment for the new 7/8 building
Now, to be fair, Item F was known about and budgeted. After all, what good is having a big, nice fancy building if you don't have any desks. But the other two....
The "culvert" project appears to be the same "road" project discussed at previous meetings. The NASD admin has pushed from day one, a campus concept so they now need the $million dollar road... oops, I mean "culvert". I suppose culvert has a more "engineered necessity" ring to it. Several board members have already discussed alternatives (a less costly walking path, etc), but as always, it now appears the admin wants it all...
The $1.2 Million team and weight room addition/renovation seems a bit much to me, but then again this admin has shown time and time again what is more important here in Nazareth.
Sports.
The $5+ Million pool, $2 Million turf field, MS soccer field, etc. etc. Yet, when a concerned group of parents go (repeatedly) to the board to ask that they consider adding an additional half-time gifted teacher (at a measly $30K), we're blown off.
Look, I'm not anti-sports nor am I anti-tax. But when we constantly put sports and frills above a quality education, we're in trouble.
6 comments:
I had a feeling this was coming for tonight. It's easy to pass this type of stuff in the summer. Even less people tend to show up.
If you care about the direction this district is going, then prove them wrong and show up in force and tell them you've had enough. I know I have.
I almost find this road (culvert? it's as bad as calling the pool a natatorium. It makes it sound more worthy of the high price tag) and weigh room worse than the pool. They're doing it knowingly after a huge tax increase.
Sow up and get involved! 7:30 tonight in the admin offices in the back of the high school.
You are right, Scott! Spending in summer keeps it under the radar. Residents don't think about school or board meetings in the summer so that's when they slip through the most spending.
Easton is holding off building their pool. Too much money. But NASD just keeps on spending. J. Owens says NASD should stand for Nary A Sport Denied. He's right.
Yes, show up tonight. Show you are watching. 7:30 in board room, the District Offices behind the high school.
Goes back to wants and needs and this Board appears willing to give in to wants while failing to address needs (ie the part time gifted teacher).
Gifted placement was unofficially 'suspended' this spring because the teacher was at her max caseload for part-time. Instead of getting kids through the testing and having to make the position full-time, the testing slowed to the point it didn't get completed based on conversations with other parents.
A half to full time position, we work around.
The weight room should come as no surprise. Parkland has a beautiful room. We hired Parkland's former coach. And now I'm sure we will have a very nice weight room too.
The shame is I'll bet it will be used almost exclusively by the football team. That has been the case in the past and I'd doubt it will change much in the future.
The pool is similar, when will others have access? How will the community benefit? Wasn't that a selling point?
We can't even access the tennis courts because they are padlocked shut, I'd highly doubt these other facilities will be opened up.
Here's the very short update on last night's meeting:
Only 6 present (Butz, Bradley and Marino absent).
The road and weight room/team room will be voted on next Monday, 6/30.
Last night was for discussion and debate (which I strongly advised during the opening comment period).
I will try and follow-up with some more details ($1.2 million to renovate and double in size the weight room! Yes-double in size) tonight.
Scott
Scott-
Thanks for the update, as I was unable to attend last night, however I will be at the 6/30 meeting.
I'm shocked that Marino wasn't there.
I'm not sure when the school board voted on this matter, but I was appalled to hear NASD turned down Bushkill's request to freeze taxes on farmland and natural resource preservation land that has been deeded to remain undeveloped. Northampton County agreed to freeze taxes and other school districts in Northampton County have also had an eye on the future by freezing taxes. I just goes to show how much NASD only looks out for it's school system and not the community they serve. Is there any wonder why farmers keep selling their land for development.
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