Open Forum-Middle School Facilities Renovation Proposal
"On June 21, 2005, the Corning-Painted Post Area School District residents will vote on the middle school facilities renovation project to enhance the educational environment for about 1,400 sixth, seventh and eighth graders at our two current middle schools, plus a new middle school site planned on Canada Road in the Town of Erwin."
For those interested in sharing opinions both pro and con on the Middle School Facilities Proposal, please leave your comments here. This post will be the official "Open Forum" site for the month of May. Please forward a link to the Red-StaterWisdoms blog to individuals in the Corning-Painted Post School District with a note inviting them to take part in an open discussion concerning the school proposal. Also, you can include links to other sites in the "comment text box" that pertain to the discussion. Interested readers can copy/paste the links into their browser address window and check them out.
Click on the headline "Open Forum-Middle School Facilities Renovation Proposal" for more detailed information about the proposed building project.
For those interested in sharing opinions both pro and con on the Middle School Facilities Proposal, please leave your comments here. This post will be the official "Open Forum" site for the month of May. Please forward a link to the Red-StaterWisdoms blog to individuals in the Corning-Painted Post School District with a note inviting them to take part in an open discussion concerning the school proposal. Also, you can include links to other sites in the "comment text box" that pertain to the discussion. Interested readers can copy/paste the links into their browser address window and check them out.
Click on the headline "Open Forum-Middle School Facilities Renovation Proposal" for more detailed information about the proposed building project.
posted by sallyann | 5:43 PM
9 Comments:
Ive been trying to keep up on this issue, however, have yet to have heard of this idea.
Has any one even given the thought to reopening the old Painted Post Middle School and relocating the Administrators to the Canada Road Facility? Seems like even after the renovations needed to do so, it would be much less expensive than the options mentioned? After all, unless everything has been destroyed by the administrators inside, wouldnt it be alot easier? Just curious because this idea really puzzles me.
I don't understand either why the district doesn't re-open the Painted Post school.
Renovating the old Painted Post school was extensively studied before the adoption of option 2 and AGAIN before last year's plan was put forth for a vote and AGAIN during this most recent review of over nine alternatives. The building is not acceptable for housing students and the renovation costs would be far more expensive than renovating the relatively new Canada Road building. Also, the old school has little or no green space for the students. The Canada Road building is a total of 15 acres. My friend will soon be adding some comments that may help people understand the new plan. Please stay open minded.
In our grandparent's day, the philosophy was to use it up , wear it out or make do. Today, we live in a throw away society where if it doesn't suit your fancy, you toss it.
I honesty believe that The members of the School Board have intentionally neglected the older schools so that they would be able to promote new, state of the art facilities. It has always amazed me how Corning ,Inc could beautify the old Administation Building that wasn't suitable for the School Administration into such a beautiful facility that now houses a private school. This was even after the pigeons had had a lovely nesting place for several+++ years. I think once you see the middle school issue resolved to the School Board's liking, their next push will be a new modern faclity for themselves.If you don't believe me drive by the old Painted Post High School, now the home of the Administration and look up under the eaves on the side of the old auditoriun. Pure neglect. If the Board can't maintain the present faciities, how do they dare ask for new? The Painted Post School and auditorium are the same vintage as Northside. They say it is not suitable for students. The real reason is that it can't accomodate a big fancy athletic environment.
Have you ever checked the salaries that the board members receive for their working occupation or where they live? A step or two above the most of us. What kind of impression do these old school buildings leave on their visiting dignataries and friends. Horrors.
Myself, I cannot understand how a fancy,state of the art school and athletic field are going to improve the fundementals of an education in subjects that a student needs to survive in the ugly,each for himself society.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
The last comment posted, I agree somewhat with. The Old Painted Post School indeed would need some repairs, but considering all the repairs necessary for these middle schools, seems it would still be cheaper than either building a new one or updating/adding to the Canada Road proposal. Geez, looking back at the photos on here of the one room school house picture, those kids turned out all right. There's alot of history at the old school(PP)& its a shame its in the condition it is in now. The way things are going, wouldnt be surprised to see a new school built and a new administration building as well. Then the old PP school will probley become elaborate condominiums or something. Its sad. Those halls should ring again with school bells and childrens voices. Politics can be cruel and senseless. They say it doesnt have very much green space...see lots of that at CFA, dont we?
Actually the new plans for CFA has a fairly large increase in green space. You should take the time to attend one of the presentations for the plans and see them for yourself.
Sadly the current conditions of the buildings cannot be wholey attributed to the "Board's" inability to maintain them. This current fiasco over the middle schools is a fine example as to why the Board has been unable to maintain any building. The people of the community are unwilling or perhaps unable to commit to the costs. In the meantime the buildings continue to crumble out from underneath the feet of the CHILDREN! Each year we do not settle on a plan and execute that plan the costs continue to increase.
The School Board and the teacher's union must get more in touch with the financial situation of the community. Budgets get voted down for very good reasons. Living in New York State and suffering constant tax assaults on our pocketbooks is the primary reason.Let's put it this way, the children suffer far more than the teachers and administrators do. There is a disconnect that school officials are unwilling to comprehend. We can't keep spending $12,000 per pupil and allow perfectly good buildings to rot before our eyes. Something's really, really wrong here.
First we have to recognize and acknowledge that the middle school situation must be fixed. Second, at this point tax payers will have to pay for it. You can place the blame for the condition of the buildings on anyone you want and we can lament over the forfeiting of funding from Corning Inc. But we are still going to pay for what needs to be done.
The amount that tax payers will cover depends on the plan that gets voted in. Here are some important points to ponder when deciding how to vote.
State aid for renovations is significantly higher than for new construction. Although a complicated calculation on the average state aid for:
Renovations is 78%
New construction is 40%
As a taxpayer would you perfer to pay 12% of renovation costs or 60% of new construction?
New York state has collected taxes from this area for many years. This school district has never taken advantage of the state funds available for a project such as this.We should collect the maximum amount we can, after all we have been paying it for years.
This school district has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on plans to fix the schools. When will it end. If this plan doesn't pass, more plans will be reviewed, more costs for architect designs, lawyers and accountants, not to mention how much we are spending because we are required to mail information to everyone in the school district. The board must continue presenting plans because the schools cannot be ignored or we leave the school district open to law suits. We have spent enough money on plans. The cost of doing nothing is too expensive.
I'm voting YES. And I will stay involved through the 4 year implementation and make sure my tax dollars go to the builings and not for "more plans". I'd my money went foroperating expenses than for "plans".
Post a Comment
<< Home