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Community Corner

Nyack Schools Bond Issue

Why does the high school need what seems to be a brand-spankin’-new, state-of-the-art sports stadium? Is such a stadium really necessary? Do we really need bleachers, a concession stand, new lighting? Whatever happened to parents bringing their own chairs and blankets to their child’s game? Whatever happened to bringing food from home? Why do we need lighting at the high school field—don’t we already have perfectly bright lighting?  

Okay, maybe the bringing one’s own chairs and blankets and food alternative is a little extreme. But the point is clear: I’m not sure the money allocated towards this chunk of this entire Nyack Schools improvement project, is indeed being properly allocated. Sure, it’s only a small percentage of the entire $26.4 million budget. Twelve percent, right? But still, money is money. And it could be used in a more practical way.

Such as “greening” of existing facilities. Does the bond proposal even address sustainability/sustainable design as a way to improve all the District’s school grounds? Did the architects the district hired to evaluate and make recommendations for the existing facilities in fact recommend energy, as well as money, saving technology—not just replacing boilers, but installing energy-efficient, money-efficient geothermal systems (which by their nature pay for themselves)? How about solar-panels? And did the volunteer committee which apparently met for a mere 7 month (not enough time compared to other projects I’ve witnessed) before coming up with their final “proposal”, did any of its members suggest such technology as an essential part of this district facilities improvement project? It does not seem like it.

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What it does seem is that the proposal was made too quickly, 7 months too quickly. And it does not seem like there was any transparency in the process. Maybe I myself have been too busy, and maybe I am the only one, but I was not aware of the very issue until three, four weeks ago, tops! And today, as I write this piece, my computer screen reads “October the 19th”.  That means the end of September, beginning of this month, latest, I found out about the Bond issue. One month. That’s not enough time for me to give my input. Not enough time for any concerned resident, parent, taxpayer to give his or her input.

Fine, there were information sessions: three, in fact. But I myself, and I am fairly certain many others, did not hear about these information sessions until after the fact.  The proof is in the pudding: I myself did not receive the District’s newsletter regarding the Bond Issue until two weeks ago! Transparency? Not enough. Time? Not enough.

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