Dear Editor,
Mr. Jensen, the OACSD “Spin Master” is at it again and more power to him. By the way, Mr. Jensen is paid handsomely to keep our schools, educators, administrator and Board in a positive light. Should Steve ever “spin” OACSD negatively, one could, would and should terminate him! It is this writer’s opinion, that Steve Jensen performs his job well and adds value to OACSD.
Now that we know where school officials are coming from, there are a few facts which remain unchanged regarding our newly constructed Elementary School.
There were no members of the community allowed on the committee to oversee, review, and approve this $72 million dollar project! Not one Architect, Builder, Doctor, Lawyer or Business Person from the community, representing the good folks of Owego-Apalachin, whose children will occupy and utilize this facility and the taxpayers will maintain and support for decades.
While it is correct, as Steve states, by using the latest in construction technologies, lower maintenance costs were engineered into the new OES, one point still remains. Once the cost has been reduced to its lowest possible cost per square foot, maintaining a 127,000 sq. ft. building will cost more than maintaining for example, a 90,000 sq. ft. building. Had we opted to build a 90,000 sq. ft. building or one that was 22 percent larger than the old OES, there could have been ample room for the expansion needed to get our Special Ed personnel “Out of the closets” they were working in. Perhaps a few community professionals could have pointed this out.
Another “Luxury” that a community member may have rejected is the $3.6 million dollar 385 seat auditorium, for which you chipped in $1.4 million. While McArthur Elementary School in Binghamton opted for a multifunctional Gymnasium / Auditorium for their FEMA funded rebuild of McArthur Elementary. Our Administration, with the Board’s approval decide we needed an auditorium. Go figure! Binghamton did not see the need for a stand-alone auditorium for kindergarten thru fifth graders, but for our kids it was a “must have.” “Cheaper in the long run than putting up and taking down chairs,” we were told!
Spin it anyway you wish. But one can put up and take down a lot of chairs for $1.4 million dollars. This $1.4 million from our Capital Reserves Fund would have been better spent upgrading the safety, security, features and functionality of AES, OMS and OFA. Want to make a wager that these upgrades will become mandated necessities in the upcoming budget cycles. After all it is “for the kids.” Though it does make me wonder: What will these “kids” think when they are old enough to start paying taxes.
Joe Chartrand
Founder, Tioga Citizens for Affordable Education & Excellence
Email to: golf4joe@aol.com
Owego, N.Y.
