Dear Editor,
The new Owego Elementary School is nearing completion and the new Administrative Building is “coming out of the ground.” As one might expect there is plenty of “spin”, “slant”, and part of the facts to be found in the Reader’s Column. When one comments from “behind the curtain” and identities are concealed, it is easy to be the “All Knowing Oz.”
Over the past few weeks one reads about “It’s an ugly building”; “It’s an extravaganza”; and “Why Dr. Russell is retiring.” On the other side you get “You had your chance”; “There was public discussion of the new buildings and their features complete with drawing, etc., “Where were you?” Another felt the need to tell the naysayers to lay off, because “It did not cost you (the local taxpayer) anything!”
Some fact, some spin in all of that! SO “WHAT’S UP DOC?” Here’s what’s up! Your new school’s size, features, and functionality was determined by your architect’s after interviewing teachers, students and administrators of OES. No community members were consulted nor input asked for.
We asked and “No thanks” was the reply from your Board. So once the “Wish List” was completed and the Genie, Dr. Russell, after many months of battling, with the help of Senator Schumer and other Politicians, made it happen! And you now see the results; a 125,000 sq. ft. State of the Art, Elementary School, complete with everything a teacher and student could ask for; plus a $1.4Million dollar Auditorium, paid for by you, the local taxpayer!
How you ask? Easy! The $1.4 million was the one necessity not covered by FEMA, NYS Relief Funds or the DOE. It came from your district’s (OACSD) building fund. How does that money get back into the Building Fund? By raising your Tax Levy so the District can “balance” the annual budget. All perfectly legal, all perfectly above board, once the annual budget is approved by you, the taxpayer.
This years 3.7 percent increase of $589,134, which you approved on May 19, sealed the deal. At the end of this school year there will be the normal $2 to $4 million surplus, a part of which will go to “replenish” the “Building Fund.” This is the shell game played by all school districts.
So don’t be fooled by the “It didn’t cost you anything crowd.” Mom was right! There’s still no free lunch! Somebody Pays! In the case of OES you kicked in $1.4 million for the auditorium.
If you naysayers really feel that this building is not what was wanted or needed, vote no on May 24, 2016; that’s your next budget vote. Or surprise the Board, come to a board meeting and tell your Board members yourself.
Sincerely,
Joe Chartrand
Tioga Citizens for Affordable Education & Excellence
Owego, N.Y.
