Letters to the editor

[Eldon McFarling]

Here we are battling it out in the paper. Here are some letters from the Waverly News ================ (note, this was from the journal-star and was also in the Waverly news) Invest in kids’ future Saturday, Feb 21, 2009 - 12:18:09 am CST The Raymond Central School Board is being fiscally responsible with our tax dollars while attempting to provide, to the best of the district’s ability, the highest quality education to our students. With bond costs down and construction contractors hungrier than they have been in recent memory, the timing of this capital campaign is perfect to take advantage of both of these conditions. The task force has worked diligently to see that this $10.9 million bond issue, nearly $6 million less than the defeated 2007 bond issue, provides for quality improvements to the junior/senior high school with no frills. In the 1960s, district citizens clearly recognized the value of their local educational system, and they committed their dollars to that cause. The result of their dedicated efforts is the facility we have today. Now it is our turn to commit resources to the cause. By voting for this bond issue now, we can position Raymond Central for the next 40 years. I hope voters attend one of the informational meetings that will take place soon across the community. Yes, it is about taxes, but it is also about our commitment to our schools. It is about leaving a legacy of which this generation can be rightly proud. It is our turn to do what is right for our kids, our school and our community. It is about investing in our future. Bob and Jan McNally, Raymond Central K.I.D.S. Task Force Scotious wrote on February 21, 2009 7:42 am: " Kudos to Bob and Jan McNally. Every community should have people like them working as hard as they do to support the necessary issues." ============================= Just a comment. this was not published in the paper Eldon McFarling 3-10-09 A nice letter. I don't agree with everything. I think a better long term investment would be to start fresh with the Jr high buildings and incorporate more energy efficiency, better materials, etc. But some very good points and well written. its often hard to get everything you want to fit the space restrictions. It is about investing in our future. I often wondered how the original schools got built in Val and Ceresco in the early 1900's after trying to get something to pass. Going back to the bond for the high school, it didn't pass the first time. The amount was just under 1M. I believe women were not able to vote then, and a 60% majority was required to pass. ============ 2-29-2009 (unedited version as submitted) photos were not submitted, but add to the discussion RC bond issue: A Pig With Lipstick Fundamentally we all want the best for our kids and our community. I support making improvements to our school system, but I cannot support the proposed plan. There are several parts of the plan that are simply unacceptable. I will support any improvements that are reasonable and necessary; however adding a fourth gym with the additional operating expense is hardly a priority when we don’t even have a performance area for fine arts. The speech team has an unprecedented 14 consecutive state titles, and gets the crumbs. That lacks common sense.

Spending millions to add on to the 50 year old Barracks is also unacceptable. The ADA access is Mediocre at best. Instead of using this opportunity to build the new addition on the same level as the main building, eliminating most or all of the safety hazards and access problems, the proposed plan adds 4-5 more sets of stairs and ramps, leaving the steep stairway in the connecting link with the opening to the chairlift 12 inches from the top step. That is an accident waiting to happen. Try to navigate those stairs with crutches or a walker.

Spending 11.5 million on 50 year old buildings, with deteriorating walls, foundations, rusted out boilers, and little or no insulation is hardly wise use of tax dollars. The antiquated Heating systems in the barracks are extremely wasteful, and inefficient:

“The room’s temperature is controlled by opening and closing windows in the background”. Teacher Chip Lange said “if we don’t open those windows it would be 90 degrees in here” (Robert Becker Lincoln Journal feb 2, 2009) None of the 11.5M cost for this project is budgeted for upgrade or repair of these buildings. I guess our board thinks that paying $4.13 for heating oil to go out the window is less important than spending 1.5M on a metal gym. Do any other area schools have a metal gym? We had the funds to build a very nice insulated block gym in Valparaiso. The School in Val is extremely energy efficient having received the energy star award, and is one of the most efficient school buildings in the nation. The proposed plan is nothing more than an energy HOG with lipstick. The taxpayers, and students will sacrifice for many years to come. Visit www.voteNOrc.org for energy info, photos, and more We can do better. Vote against the School Bond Eldon McFarling Ceresco You can put a frilly dress and lipstick on a pig, but underneath it is still a pig. 3-10-09 It is difficult to get everything in sometimes. after reading this and the response below I need to clarify some things. The total square footage for the 07 plan was 133,000 The total square footage for the 09 plan is 120,000 ? 70,000 remodel 47,000 new 3,000 existing admin? 120,000 -78,000 now =42,000 additional sq feet Average energy cost for the past 2 years is close to $2.00 sq ft. Hoping that would improve some lets use 25% which might be dreaming, $1.50 x 42,000 =$63,000 Plus additional custodial & maint so one could estimate an additional $100,000 for overhead each year. The budget is maxed out. Where is this going to come from? We going to just steal it from the educational items, field trips, etc? Gonna steal more from the taxpayers? Building A&B Have the oldest, inefficient heating systems, no insulation and NO AC other than window units. These buildings remain in use so the energy savings from newer equipment in the new buildings goes out the window by keeping the Old junk in the system. that is where the energy waste and pollution come from. 11.5 Million spent and nothing is done to improve the worst energy consumption in the entire district. This is what I can't go along with. The 16.3M plan would cost less to operate and maintain. I didn't factor in the higher maintenance cost we have keeping the old buildings. " they will nickle and dime you to death" ever hear that one? SO we add space we don't need/ can't afford to operate paid for with money we don't have. I can't endorse a plan like that in good faith. ================== 3-5-2009 Project includes energy efficiency, more space for arts Editor: This letter is about the proposed improvements to Raymond Central High/Junior High School. The portions of the facilities that are being retained and re-modeled have structural integrity and are fundamentally sound. By renovating, not replacing, these buildings the students will enjoy modern facilities without unnecessary expense to the tax-payers. The building will be completely ADA accessible. Certain areas will be tiered by design. This allows these spaces to be multipurpose. The new buildings and the new structures will not waste energy. The fact is this school will be as energy efficient as technology will allow at a reasonable price. HVAC systems that are in good shape will be reused. Those in need of replacement will be replaced. If the school board decides to include a geothermal system, the heating and cooling system will be as efficient as currently possible. The speech program and the fine arts department are not being ignored. The proposed design includes a separate speech/DI classroom that is larger and much more useable than the current space. The band space will be doubled and the art gets a new and larger classroom. These are the facts. Please support the Raymond Central Bond issue. Michael Issaacson Valparaiso ========================= 3-12-2009 unedited version as submitted Your FACTS are sugar coated Editor: In response to Michael Issaacson’s letter published on 3-5-09. The budget for the project states “No work for Buildings A and B” Those old Barracks buildings have antiquated, obsolete, and inefficient boilers polluting the air, while burning fuel made from imported oil. The Barracks buildings also lack insulation. Age and lack of maintenance has caused deterioration of the foundation and walls. The obsolete heating systems do not work properly. The plan does nothing to deal with the worst energy waste in the entire school system. It’s not the small amount of improvement the plan includes, but the large amount of problems remaining after spending over 11 million dollars that make this plan unacceptable. The plan lacks common sense and is simply a bridge to nowhere. I encourage you to visit www.voteNOrc.org to download a copy of the energy audit prepared by Norris Public Power for the facts on energy use. Regarding the availability of stimulus funds: The superintendent and board have stated they have applied for funds to be used for a well upgrade project which is part of the plan. There are plenty of needs in the system other than brick and mortar. HVAC upgrades, Fire sprinkler, ADA, etc. We should seek stimulus funds to offset the cost of any of our school’s needs, even if there are not monies for the metal gym portion of the project. Eldon McFarling Ceresco ENERGY INFO HERE ============ 2 letters suggesting we try for stimulus funds to help lower costs. 1 letter bashing the idea. I don't have copies of those to add here. all are in the waverly news and wahoo news