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Rockwood approves $43.2 million bond issue for April ballot
By: Carol Enright
Rockwood Board of Education Vice President Matt Doell discusses removing some items from a proposed bond issue before the board voted to put a $43.2 million bond issue on the April ballot. (West Newsmagazine photo)
The Rockwood Board of Education at its Jan. 19 meeting voted to place a $43.2 million bond issue on the April 3, 2012, ballot. When the meeting began, the proposed bond issue was $43.5 million, but Board Vice President Matt Doell made a motion to eliminate several items from the proposed bond issue.
Doell said he wanted to bring the total amount to just less than $40 million to increase the bond’s chances of passing. His proposed cuts included stripping an additional $500,000 from technology improvements, eliminating expansion of the district’s early childhood center for another $2.25 million in savings, and taking out $220,000 in proposed improvements to the football field at Rockwood Summit High School.
Board member Peggy Devoy took issue with reducing technology improvements to $7 million from the proposed $7.5 million, arguing that technology was critical to the success of the district’s students.
“They’re inheriting a world of technology. That’s where we need to stay on top of our game,” Devoy said.
Board member Stephen Banton argued in favor of retaining the proposed expansion to the district’s early childhood center, citing research that early childhood education is “critical to their (students’) achievement in elementary school and in middle school and in high school.”
Board member Geoff Rigabar agreed.
“Research is pretty strong in that area,” he said.
Rigabar said he supported the proposed dollar amount of the bond issue.
“I believe that the bond issue, as it stands, is appropriate and defensible,” he said.
Banton noted that “this bond issue is one of the lowest in the last 15 years that the district has put up.”
“There’s nothing in here for growing education into the 21st century or any other special or new project. It’s maintaining buildings and taking care of the facilities that we have,” Banton said.
Board member Keith Kinder acknowledged that Doell’s “sole goal is to make sure the bond issue passes,” but questioned whether reducing the number to $40 million would “enhance the chances of passing.”
After a brief discussion, the board voted to move ahead with a $43.2 million bond issue, removing about $300,000 that had been proposed for health and wellness facility improvements. All board members voted in favor of putting the bond issue on the April ballot. Board member Steve Smith left the room during the vote to avoid any conflict of interest due to his employment with Glenn Construction Co., a contractor that has worked on the district’s bond-related construction projects.
Prior to the vote, four district residents voiced their opinions on the bond issue.
“I do not know any parents who want their children in a school system where technology is outdated, where buildings are overcrowded, unsafe or uncomfortable,” said Zachlyn Farwig, a Rockwood parent and PTO president of the district’s early childhood center. “To delay the bond issue only hurts our kids in their education.”
Eileen Tyrell, spokesperson for the grassroots Rockwood Stakeholders for Real Solutions (RS for RS) and Eureka High School parent, said RS for RS would neither endorse nor object to the bond issue.
Darine Kube, a Rockwood parent who has served on the district’s finance committee, said that while she was on the committee it had “anticipated this bond issue, going back and looking at our finances, several bond issues ago.”
“In my opinion, it is a sound, fiscally responsible approach to fund these types of projects through a bond issue. It just makes sense,” Kube said.
After the vote, Rockwood Chief Communications Officer Kim Cranston discussed guidelines for the upcoming election. In addition to the bond issue, the April ballot will include the election of two board members. Cranston said the district’s job was to inform the public, not campaign for the bond issue or any board candidates.
The Jan. 19 meeting was the first board meeting that was taped so that an audio session could be made available on the school district’s website.
1 Comments
Below is RS for RS complete statement submitted to the board. The coalition is all about educating the voter on the issue; not telling them how to vote. We believe the Rockwood voter is wise enough to judge the facts for themselves. RS for RS will give you as much information as possible, not just what you will get from the district.
Date: January 19, 2012
To: Rockwood Board of Education
From: Rockwood Stakeholders for Real Solutions
As all of you are very well aware RS for RS represents the segment of taxpayers not represented or associated with a PTO group in their buildings or a Teacher’s organization.
The principals and purposes of our coalition is getting the silent majority’s voice heard.
Recently district officials launched a quick poll seeking input on a potential bond issue. However, the poll notification was only sent to rockwood parents who are on the e-news mailing list.
This TAKE THE POLL announcement is not on the district home page under LATEST NEWS (which would appear on all school websites) nor is it on any of the building websites via their weekly announcements or ebackpack.
Which begs the question; is this Govenoring Board of elected representatives being provided an accurate portrait of the current landscape of Rockwood voters regarding a 43 million Bond Issue.
Therefore, RS for RS sent the link to all of the stakeholders on their email list encouraging them to let their voices be heard. This email was not just sent once, but twice.
At 4pm today 372 votes were cast resulting in a 47% Yes and 52% No. However, due to its limited advertisement, we can all agree this is neither fair nor accurate.
The coalition also sent out an email inviting stakeholders to share their comments on a potential 2012 Bond Issue. With their permission, I will read you a few, along with giving each of you copies for further review.
1. Thank you for representing the taxpayers in the Rockwood district. I am against a bond issue. That is going to be used for repairs; I believe this should be in the budget already. I realize the unfortunate move to a more national curriculum, or the common core standards, has unfunded mandates we may not be aware of. I believe more can be done to shave the spending. Some examples, cutting some bus service, this is a privilege and some distances that are covered with busses should have kids walking.
2. We are retirees and have lived in Eureka for 16 years. Rockwood has far too long
been spending our hard earned money with no remorse. As long as Glenn
Construction is involved with ANY construction with RSD and RSD can’t tighten in
their belts until it hurts, my husband and I will vote against any bond if
presented on the April ballot. RSD has to be more resourceful by being creative
each time $1 is spent.
3. This school board is like a 10 year old child. They spend everything they are given immediately and ask for more because that’s what they have always done. It’s time to cut back on spending. Not just live within your means but CUT BACK! Everyone who works in the real world understands that. It’s our tax money not monopoly money. Pretend you’re a business in the real world and you have to be held accountable for your spending! Oh wait, you are going to be held accountable. The Rockwood school district is managed incompetently by people who think the public isn’t aware of what they do. Really? Do you really believe that a PhD. Is required to sit on a school board? How ridiculous. We don’t need the newest and best. What we have now is just fine. Your job is to keep it running. Without crooked contractors.
4. There is no such thing as an any tax increase bond issue. There is still debt service to pay that would otherwise be saved and reduce tax obligations or go to operating expenses. The cost of central office staff has skyrocketed over the past couple of years, due to a doubling of staff, for reasons that do not benefit the education of our children. If they need the money I suggest cutting that staff by 50%. We don’t need an assistant principal in charge of restrooms.
Regardless of claims by the administration, we just had a substantial tax increase without a vote due to a quirk in state law. The whole board and administration is totally out of control.
Rockwood Stakeholders for Real Solutions IS NOT endorsing any issues or candidates on the upcoming April ballot. Our mission is and will be to educate and inform the Rockwood stakeholders/taxpayers/voters
The Independent Citizens Bond Committee and all Candidates running for the Board have an open invitation to submit their profiles, bios and comments for posting on our blog, facebook page and newsletter.
Respectfully submitted,
Rockwood Stakeholders for Real Solutions
rsdstakeholders@gmail.com
rsdstakeholders.org
636-222-8305