[Originially posted at LarsonShow.com]
A friend texted me the results of the District 91 $84.5 Million bond election last night.
With all due respect to those supporting the bond, I was far more elated than I expected. I must have been more emotionally invested in this one than I thought, because I was nearly giddy.
Keep in mind, I don’t live in District 91, and don’t really have an obvious stake in the outcome of the election.
But here’s why I think I had a surge of “Yes!” when I found out the bond failed.
First, let me say that I am an unapologetic school election reform advocate. I think school elections are a sham for a whole bunch of reasons:
1. They do not fall under the purview of the Secretary of State. Every public election in Idaho should be overseen by a “disinterested” party. The school officials have a vested interest in the outcome, so why should they be running their own elections?
2. Because there is no outside observer, school districts resort to some shifty tactics to better their chances. I received two calls about activity that I believe borders on electioneering, if not rigging. One was about his elementary school holding a student music program from 6:30 to 8:00pm — the last ninety minutes of yesterday’s election. How convenient. The second was from a patron who was appalled at the glossy architectural renderings of the district’s proposed schools inside the polling place. Would the schools give equal access to the opposition to hold activities and display their printed materials? Not likely.
3. Elections are held at the very location that stands to benefit from passage. What would happen if a polling place was set up at GOP headquarters in a partisan election? We all know the answer to that, and we all understand why that’s not acceptable. So where do we hold them? How about the post office, or city hall, or the library? Even hotel conference rooms have served as perfectly good polling places. The county courthouse. The police station. The airport. The senior citizen center, or legion hall. We have plenty of neutral locations for a vote. Let’s get them out of the schools.
4. Thanks to legislative action earlier this year, this concern is almost moot, but why have schools been able to set their own election days? Yesterday’s vote is a perfect example. While I understand 6,000 votes is a pretty decent voter turnout, holding it two weeks earlier on the regular election day would have guaranteed even more voter participation.
Add to these reasons the unusually prompt enforcement by the City of Idaho Falls in removing signs opposed to the bond in the public right-of-way, and I’m happy to see that the underdogs prevailed.
With all of these factors playing in District 91’s favor, fifty-six per cent seems pretty anemic.
I suppose part of my unexpected elation over yesterday’s bond failure came about because the outcome is another reminder that people don’t like education officials’ insatiable appetites for public money. Among the patrons with whom I associate, administrators throughout education have wandered into that realm where yesterday’s wants have so easily morphed into today’s needs. Perhaps one of my callers said it best yesterday when he described his change of mind upon hearing the “need” for the schools to have air conditioning in a climate that necessitates it only a few weeks out of the school year.
I strongly believe every parent wants the best education for their children, and when arguments are reduced to a supposition that those who vote against a bond or a levy don’t care about education, it’s sad, simplistic, and unproductive.
Hopefully the architects of this failed bond will go back to the drawing board and come back with a plan that is more innovative, exciting, and palatable to the taxpaying patrons in District 91.
Popularity: 1%
Related posts:
- VOTE “NO” On The New School Bond! INSTEAD, Merge The Two Local School Districts Into One!!!
- Local Senator Bart Davis vs. Election Date Consolidation
- What about School District 91’s upcoming request for $85 million?
- Meetings planned to discuss Idaho Falls School District 91 bond proposal
- Hang up or listen? Campaigning by phone – Robo calls.
:@:)
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Neal, your being “giddy’ about D91’s failed bond is a bit disturbing. The reasons you are citing are part of every school bond… not just D91’s. you are talking about actions that should happen at a state level, not a District level. Why would D91 do anything any different with their election than every other district in the area. By the way almost all other districts in the area have passed thier bonds, including Ririe and Snake River. I have seen the schools in all of the surrounding districts and D91 is by far in the sorriest shape!
Your “air conditioning” comment only proves your ignorance on the matter. The problem with most of the schools being remodeled or rebuild is that the heating systems are old, outdated, expensive and inferior. The new systems proposes are current, efficient and will require less maintenance… they are designed to keep the temperature steady (which promotes a proper learning environment). This means steady for both heating and cooling (and yes, the cooling part is for far less of the year than the heating part, but, the cooling is part of the new heating system for a very minimal cost). Some of these schools are out of whack on the temperature swings that can occure in just one day. In some existing schools you would be hard pressed to find a consistent temperature just in one room, yet alone multiple classrooms.
Please understand the need is real and it is not going to get better… only older and more expensive to replace.
The school board is made up of some truly remarkable individuals who I would not want to trade places with for any amount of money. They have all done an outstanding job to trim away the fat and get the bond down to what is needed to bring the buildings up to par and to reduce the long-term maintenance.
If you really want to educate youself on both sides of this bond then I recommend that you take a tour of just a couple of the proposed replacement schools. I believe it will be a real eye-opener for you.
Needs vs. wants and the insatiable appetites for public money
When did doors on classrooms become a need? Many students have been educated for years without classroom doors or in annex buildings scattered around campus. However, in the wake of Columbine, schools practice lockdowns as a way to secure the building and control movement. Lincoln Early Learning Center in Pocatello was in lockdown today. But in most of our schools, backdoors must remain unlocked during school hours, allowing easy unsupervised contact with our children. Secure buildings are a need. Is this a point we agree on, or do we simply agree to disagree?
Classrooms that reach 87 degrees for the few weeks in the fall and spring cook students and teachers. This temperature is not just warm, it is HOT! Students come in from recess, hot and tired from running around. They find no relief from the heat, and instincts take over. They lay their heads down on the desk and fall asleep. What does an empathetic teacher do? She calls air conditioning a need. (Which by the way isn’t in the form of refrigerated air, but rather and evaporative cooling system built into the ventilation system.)
“No child left behind” doesn’t give her the luxury of letting her students hibernate for a few weeks. Plug in a fan? That might work, but there isn’t an available outlet nor the power to support a fan. Clusters of old computers are taking up the power, and putting off enormous amounts of heat. Operating a computer in an environment that is greater than 80 degrees begins to place the computer at risk. If the computers and students can’t work after lunch, maybe we should have year round school, but only hold classes in the mornings of June, July, August, and September. This is a problem, but I agree there could be some exciting ways to deal with it.
The state has mandated 1/3 more science classes for graduation. Two out of three science classes must be lab based. A teacher cannot teach lab science in a normal classroom. They need storage for chemicals, and fume hoods for hands on science. How do you teach real science without a science lab?
Inadequate power. What does this mean? The power circuit blows regularly. Run the copy machine – blow the circuit. Turn on a computer – blow the circuit. Run the microwave in the teacher’s lounge and the cafeteria at the same time, the power to the principal’s office turns off. It is unpredictable, frustrating, and ridiculous. If you had two outlets in a classroom what would you plug in? Don’t bother looking into “new technology” our children will have to learn the hard way what was a need. Do we keep spending thousands of dollars on energy? Literally throwing our money out the window. Do we try to be good customers of Idaho Falls power, reducing our demands, and lessening the amount IF power has to purchase?
The list goes on, and so will the discussion of wants and needs. Henry David Thoreau was a “poet, naturalist, tax resister, & development critic” He would argue for only the most primal of needs. I doubt anyone in this conversation is so extreme, but I guess that is where we might agree.
Lisa Burtenshaw –Idaho Falls District #91 School Board Member (and the mother of a 7th grader, 4th grader, 2nd grader and 3 yr. old.
Points taken…but let me add two cents…
It is never hot here in the spring. If the kids did not have to go back to school in the middle of summer, that would solve the hot “fall” days as well. Not to mention most schools allow little running at recess anyway, lest little Sally and Johnny should fall and skin their precious knees.
No one wants children in schools that are in disrepair, but $84 million is ridiculous. I have children in three of the schools that were to receive upgrades in one form or another. Some of the upgrades would have been appreciated, and perhaps could be considered necessary, but some were realistically gigantic extravagances. Attempting to place all of these improvements in one enormous bond “package deal” was the district’s way of trying to pull the pork over taxpayers eyes.
Times are tight for everyone it seems except the government. News flash school board–Idaho Falls doesn’t like the way Washington loves to spend. Perhaps if the board would come to us with practical, commonsensical solutions that address the real NEEDS of the district rather than the obvious improvidence of millions of dollars in unessential luxuries, voters might be willing to open up their wallets just a bit.
I agree with Iris.
Iris-
This is the type of response that can start true dialogue, but you are going to have to be specific about what projects at your children’s schools you thought were extravagant.
Also, considering the dollar amount, $85 million is a sticker shock (I understand this) but one scare tactic that was used by the “anti” group was the dollar amount itself. If the bond was for $5 million dollars, and it was going to raise taxes approximately $10 dollars a month, would that make any difference?
I hate blogs because you can’t sense my tone, but I am being genuine. School meetings were held last year to get patron input, but it looks like now a real discussion can begin.
I really hope to hear back on this.
Lisa
I know at the school my children went to the principal was waiting by the polling spot talking to every potential voter that came in trying to convince them to vote yes.
Thank you Lisa for your sincere concern. I can give you a specific ‘for instance’ in the time I have now. If you want more, I can give more examples later. Our elementary school was to have additional classrooms built. I would consider this a moderate need as we currently have a trailer to house some special classes (title 1/ESL tutoring etc.) although all of our regular classroom teachers have a room. The luxury in my opinion was that they were to build a multipurpose room as well. Why? We have one. Does the inconvenience of having to occasionally (rarely) having to shuffle things warrant the millions it would cost to build a second one? No way. They were also going to reconfigure the front offices to accommodate more support staff. While I think that it would be wonderful to do this, the reality of the cost is just too much for people at this time.
I was fully aware of the per month/year cost of the $85 million, so it was not “sticker shock”. The problem is, when you try to lump so many unessentials in with a few things that voters may have actually wanted, we tend to think that we are being soaked, and revolt, essentially throwing the baby out with the bath water.
I have had children in district 91 for 12+ years. I am very involved in education in the state and district. I am aware. I speak my mind to my friends. I vote. If you want to get a bond passed, you need parents like me on the side of the school board. Lisa, the only way to do this is to pull in the reigns, be prudent, show us that you are trying to spend the money you already have wisely before asking for more.
If you want more specifics, I will be happy to keep the discussion going. I hope other parents will come in as well. We really are all on the same side.
Those in favor of the School Bond were very loud in voicing all of the positives. What about all of the “little things” that were in the proposal that were not voiced quite so loudly. Here are a few necessities that they just had to have: a new football stadium, teacher lounges, new administration offices, and new schools. Why are new schools necessary when you closed two last year? In addition, student enrollment is in a decline, not an incline. Instead of saving money by building in this economy, we would actually be spending more. For the new schools: They would need to hire new administration, new teachers, and not to forget all of the little things that are needed in schools. How is this going to help our students? None of this money was going to academics, which is lousy in my opinion. I guess if you are blind enough all of those things are important. But then again I have proven repeatedly that I am against public funding for sports and extracurricular activities. That is a different subject.
I just want to let you know that this bond would have passed if it had been reasonable. I am tired of people thinking that they can just buy everything on credit. That is how we got into this situation anyway.
Another thing, they would have hired the architects, and builders outside of Bonneville County. Now how does that help improve our economy?
Neal, nice article.
To Community Citizen, comment #1:
Yes, SD.91 is not the only school district behaving this way, and that is part of the problem. It seems most of the school districts run their elections the same way, and take full advantage of the fact they can operate outside of the election laws that everyone else is supposed abide by.
Maybe SD.91’s facilities are in worse shape than some of our neighbors, and if so, maybe they should stop presenting unrealistic and over the top bond requests.
As for air conditioning, I am not an HVAC specialist, but is AC truly needed in the schools? So what if the temperatures are not consistent throughout the building. I know temperatures are not consistent throughout my workplace or home on a regular basis, but we make do. When I attended school, none of the facilities had AC, and we survived – and so can today’s children. Must we continue to coddle them to this extent?
Yes, I can admit that some of the needs are real, but I also believe some of the “needs” are wants such as improving the football stadium for an example.
I also agree that many on the school board are good people, but that does not mean I cannot disagree with their proposals or stances. And yes, public service is often a thankless job. Nontheless, I still believe there is fat to be trimmed and that maybe the board members are too easily swayed by district bureaucrats.
Lastly, I have seen and toured a few of the buildings that were to be rebuilt, and I do not agree that all the “needs” or wants are necessary.
To Lisa Burtenshaw, comment #2:
Yes, I can agree that doors are a need – no problem there. But is upgrading Ravsten Stadium a need or want? In my opinion, it is a want. If not, then what does upgrading the locker rooms and restrooms have to do with bettering a child’s basic education? Could the board not request that local boosters raise the money to take care of this “need?” Your example of doors being a need is smooth and well played, but that wasn’t the only project on the list.
Yes, a temperature of 87 degrees within a building can be hot and uncomfortable – but so what. My family and I do not have AC at home, and we make do. Open windows. Many homes within the area lack AC and make do. How is it fair to ask citizens who may be strapped for cash to do without only to provide an “extravagance” to others that they themselves could never afford, even without an increase in taxes.
As for “no child left behind,” I am not a fan – the measure is just one more example as to why the federal government should keep their noses out of the state’s business. Nonetheless, perhaps you could adjust the district’s calendar by eliminating some of those numerous days off for parent-teacher conferences and teacher in-service days. Concerning fans, I have seen battery operated, energy efficient fans – perhaps those who find discomfort with the room temperatures could arrange for placement of these fans through generous PTO support.
Concerning the science lab comments, I would agree and recognize this as a legitimate need based on state regulations.
Power situation and need for electrical upgrades – I would support. But a school does not need to be torn down for this reason. Electrical upgrades are necessary as a property owner, but you don’t see every homeowner tearing down their homes to do so. The same should go for the schools.
Lisa, I do appreciate your service and willingness to offer feedback through this forum.
I’m sorry I wont be able to respond to your posts tonight, hopefully I can find time tomorrow afternoon, but I am appreciative to hear specific feedback. We may not agree on all points, and I’ve only been on the school board for a few months (so I don’t have many answers), but I am happy to continue the dialogue.
Here’s what I don’t understand, according to the ballot, we were to vote on a bond that would be used to upgrade the lighting, heating and cooling systems
new science labs, as well as build new schools. Yet every time that I watch TV and a commercial comes on for the Idaho lottery, the main reason that we should be playing is because the local schools benefit from it. According to the Idaho lottery the money goes to the schools to do the upgrades for lighting, heating and cooling, as well as new desks for the students. Yet when I asked Tom Luna (Idaho’s state superintendent) he informed me that the Idaho Lotto, only contributes 1% of it’s earnings to the schools, understand that is 1% state wide, not per each school. If the Idaho lotto was really contributing to the schools like it was intended to, we would not be facing these issues, just a side note I also received my property taxes yesterday, before going to vote, talk about timing.
The school districts need to take a look at what is happening in the districts, and we should be asking questions of the staff like, “Why does a superintendent of dist 91 need three sectaries, for himself? Why is there so many family members that work in the same schools? Why do I see school buses going down my street to pick up only one student and the rest have to walk or get a ride to school?
Neil…
I hope you have the same glee when one of those old electrical panels burns up and puts a bunch of kids in an old FEMA trailer for the rest of the year. With any luck, the trailer won’t be one that was used in Katrina.
Neil…
You pen seven paragraphs on WHY you detest or believe that school elections are a sham, and then state (correctly, for a change) that your complaint is moot, because beginning next year, Bonneville County will be presiding over all elections (including school-based).
If yours is, by your own admission, a moot point, why make it? (other then to see yourself printed, trying to make yourself viable – P.S. It isn’t working).
I also find it incredibly (though not at all surprisingly) hypocritical that you go on and on, day after day, espousing for a “less governmental control / smaller government” way of life, and now, AND ONLY when it serves your purpose, you cry because the Secretary of State does not oversee the school bond election.
Once again Neil, you show you are nothing more than a wannabe gas bag mouthpiece for the far right. Or at least you’d like to be. Or maybe, as I stated earlier, you’re just trying to make yourself viable by writing (?) controversial fishwrap fodder (Again, it ain’t workin’, Mate!).
If you have a VIABLE point, for goodness sake, make it man. Otherwise, zip- the lip, eh?