‘Needs must be prioritized’

BY GAYLE SCHMIDT

Whether you bought, built, or rented a home, you probably started with a list of things you believed to be needed. It is also likely that layout/design, practicality, and COSTS kept you from fulfilling all on your wish list — NEEDS must be PRIORITIZED.

The school project is no different and everyone had opinions on what "needed" was. When cost and scope plans were adjusted, the most seemingly CRITICALLY NEEDED items were again reviewed and identified in PRIORITY order. Several items were deemed as being able to wait just a bit — still very important but moved to an alternate funding plan which has been carefully considered by the school board and facilities team.

Many districts rely on referendums to address their most significant infrastructure needs, but not all maintenance should be deferred to a public vote. Many projects could be handled within the district's CIP/Repair/Maintenance Budget. Items like painting and flooring could even be completed (room by room) over time allowing use of available funds from this budget to address the next highest PRIORITY first, like HS HVAC or roof.

The school board is not hiding or deceiving the public on the additional $15m in repairs, as some suggest. Rather, they have thoroughly reviewed, cost analyzed and prioritized the NEEDS list. As discussed in repeated public presentations/forums, this minimizes the bond tax burden and demonstrates a PLAN to address NEEDS at all three schools.

I will vote YES on the school referendum in June.