From STEM to Arbor Heights
We have been asked to relay this message:
Dear Arbor Heights Community,
I wanted to thank you for giving the STEM community the opportunity to speak at the Oct 17th School Board Meeting. The fact that you so gracefully ceded your spot to another parent so we could speak to the board speaks volumes about the amazing people you are. We were so disappointed to only have spots on the wait list, so this was truly a gift you gave our community.
We are so hopeful that your communities zealous advocacy on behalf of your children and families will pay off.
With hope, respect, and big props,
Robin Graham
Co-President K-5 STEM
Comments
AH community's message to the Board, and a
CYA trip from the president himself. Gotta at least look like your actually listening, I guess.
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2. Let many of your buildings deteriorate.
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3. Be "authentically" surprised at the challenges of housing a growing population of students in fewer, poorly maintained schools.
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4. Have your "trustworthy" staff establish a list of priority projects to address overcrowding and poorly maintained schools - but remain vague with the public on the fact that these "priorities" are not "promised".
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5. Cross your fingers and hope the levy passes.
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...and when it does...
6. Open the new South Lake Union School ... "downtown"!
-Sue in Zen Field
1) The District can borrow against future levy revenues. After the meeting closed up, Duggan Harmon said that the rates now are something like 0.5% for a year or two, and a bit more for more.
2) If you're willing to bus AH to Boren, you should be willing to borrow to accelerate the AH project. Even at a 1.5% rate, the nnual cost of borrowing ($525K on $35M loan) is about the same as the cost of busing ($500K for 10 buses to move 400 students).
3) Even better, if you build early, you avoid construction cost increases. Now is a great time to get bids. In five years when the economy is up and running again, construction costs will probably be going up 5% a year. In that case, it saves the district money to build earlier if borrowing costs are still low.
The same message goes for other projects, although the District has a finite capacity to manage large capital projects.
Brother, you said a mouthful.