I am surprised that the Toledo School Board and superintendent are once again assaulting us with another bond attempt with the same components just four months after the third failed attempt. The high school remodel and renovation, the new middle school roof and elementary school heating system are important and need to be passed since it is way overdue. The middle school roof and elementary heating system should have been done during the 1995-1996 bond, but was put off in favor of shuffling those monies away from those projects to build the high school grandstand. Regarding the leaking roof issues at the high school, the most basic maintenance of cleaning the limbs, leaves and needles off in the past years was neglected, therefore causing water buildup and damage. Why? A homeowner takes care of his or her entire house!
A letter was presented by two former principals, a former teacher and a former superintendent (active when these facilities were falling into neglect), insulting Mr. Fredrickson, Mr. Reid and Mr. Carlson for questioning “facts” from the school district that we are to swallow without question since the time the very first bond was presented. Name-calling is uncalled for and should not enter into an intelligent discussion. These people who were recognized as former school leaders were not presenting themselves intelligently and not speaking for the community.
These renovations and repairs are important issues, but I will not vote for a bond that includes the proposed new track renovation and new restroom facilities. Have grounds maintenance dig a french drain to drain the water pictured in the paper between the first two bond attempts — after all, we had a young man place at state competition using that track!
As to the bathroom line item, they are asking to build a facility that costs three to four times what my house and property cost! Contract with a portable toilet company: four for men, four for women, and one for handicap use and for the company to regularly clean and maintain. That will be a lot less expensive over the next 20 years!
Maybe the district should hold off with this bond vote until we voters can get a feel of how this McCleary legislation at the state level is going to affect us. Is this why the January meeting was postponed to such a late date — so as to not have time to respond to their actions before the bond vote was taken?
Mr. Rust invited voters who voted against the bond to come out and do research and help present other options for the district to consider. At a meeting, without hearing all the presentations, people were asked to come forward and put a sticker on their choice. (The majority of these “voters” had not been in the work sessions nor had time to consider any of the other options, therefore they went to put their sticker on the same bond.) This was very discouraging to those who put in all their time and work on this project. Does the Toledo School District expect to keep asking for the same thing until they wear us down? As my wife has pointed out, if a woman has experienced unwanted advances from a man, she should only have to say “no” once. How many times do I have to say no to this bond? Give us a bond that we can vote for!
Larry Kearns
Toledo
