Between $25 million and $995 million — that's what taxpayers could foot for Fort Wayne Community Schools' districtwide building renovation project.
Schmidt Associates, an Indianapolis-based firm hired by the district, on Tuesday also recommended closing Elmhurst High School and Ward Education Center, an alternative school for sixth- through 12th-graders.
“There hasn't been a lot of construction in the last 30 years,” Wayne Schmidt said in explaining the massive nature of the project to FWCS' Yellow Ribbon Committee and financial task force. About 34 of the district's 50 school buildings are more than 40 years old.
The age of some of the schools and the need for repairs can't be argued with. But $1 billion? That is stunning and audacious, a record setter by an incredible amount. Whatever ends up being spent will be whatever the community can stomach, and it will not be that much. Some will say that Superintendent Wendy Robinson laid out the $1 billion option to make $200 million or $300 million more palatable. But we talked to her on Tuesday, and I think she was sincere when she said she personally is committed to the largest option as what the system really needs. Some will also say she released the details of which school needs what so the patrons of those schools can join the lobbying effort, and there is probably some truth in that.
An obvious complaint that will come up often in the debates: Why now, when there is already plenty of controversy about academic achievement or its lack in Fort Wayne Community Schools? Won't this issue, however important it is, distract us from focusing on academics. Robinson would say that deteriorating facilities and lack of achievement are related, but she'll have a tough time making a $1 billion case out of it. At the very least, we are going to end up with two serious conversations about FWCS at the same time when many would prefer one conversation at a time.
Comments
We just have tio make sure that these "conversations" are coming out of BOTH sides of the educational system's mouth...
Not to play Devil's Advocate, but doesn't that make a good argument for all that illegal immigrant LABOR (and the much lower costs that ride along with them)?
((just a thought))
I recall the old days of neighborhood schools...K-6th (or 7th)...built like the bastions of Camelot....solid granite!!! We had HUGE hard wood doors, hard wood floors, thick pane windows, and it ALL WORKED. The high schools were much the same way (grades 8-12)..ivy-covered solid buildings.
Today, schools are constructed more for the "aesthetic" attributes, and many times, that comes at a price...as in cheaper construction, ergo, less longevity.
It's no Frank Lloyd Wright scenario, but good construction lasts longer....it doesn't get any simpler than that.
Add to that the maintenance staff is usually consumed more with fixing what kids destroy (sometimes on a daily basis), than with the buildings (per se) these days, it's no wonder than a lot of mandatory upgrades slip through the (ever widening) cracks. Most all major jobs for any school building is outsourced, and THAT will cost more as well.
The educational system has taken the neighborhood schools OUT of he picture, opting for larger schools with greater student populations, and assumed the vicissitudes that inherently accompany them....then *they* come back a decade or so later, and basically "demand" the fixes for these building that *they* mandated in the first place. The sad part is...achievement scores are NOT growing by leaps and bounds (even with all this new "stuff" that is rapidly getting older).
I'm seeing a real "Catch-22" here.
((sorry, but MY pockets are getting ANY deeper any time soon, folks))
;)
B.G.
I think it is interesting that within the past 15 or so years we have spent $100 million to upgrade Northside and Southside High Schools.
While I do not argue that the work was not needed- BOTH schools have needs according to the report.
Given the price tags, that is troublesome.
The planning in this city is atrocious. Combined sewage overflow ignored for years and now THIS? City leaders can't continue to ignore problems and then expect the taxpayers to fork over ungodly sums of money in a lumpsum fashion.
Every single person involved in this lack of oversight and planning should apologize and be voted out of office (or resign). There has to be accountability somewhere and the voters need to draw a line in the sand. I can't imagine another scenario where all taxpayers would be hit as hard as this - up to several HUNDRED dollars per month.
Primaries are right around the corner - good luck to anyone that supports this kind of tax increase...
Remember gang...there are are OVER 30 (city AND county) "entities" that can levy property tax increases upon you....and the FWCS is but ONE of them.
The other 29+ are just waiting THEIR turn...
;)
B.G.
Jeff,
Fort Wayne was not the only city to put off fixing combined sewers.
I served on the Sewer Task Force- Fort Wayne was actually pro-active in finding a solution.
And Bob's other point is a good one- the City Council and Mayor have NOTHING to do with FWCS.
I can't imagine that much money to repair schools. I went to Central (in fact, I was in many classes with Wendy - if you read this, hi, ...) and at that time it was not in the best state of repair - and our education was fine. I'm not so sure I agree with "deteriorating facilities and lack of achievement are related" - seems to me we had this discussion down here in central Texas and most of the community said they would rather spend the money on teachers and supplies and have school in a tent if they had to,
I find it interesting that both Wayne Schmidt and the superintendent say that there are no "wish" list items in the proposal. Every elementary schools has a distance learning room, teacher collaboration rooms, and parent and community rooms.... Schmidt and Wendy say these items are essential to the system, yet in my ten years on the board there has been absolutly no board level discussion of distance learning etc.... Seems much of this just became essencial recently.
The mayor has nothing to do w/ FWCS? I find that incredibly hard to believe. The mayor has influence in every level of the city government. If he HASN'T been involved in FWCS business then he's just as negligent as the rest of the board. How can you suggest otherwise?
This sounds like typical buck-passing to me - it's never ANYONE'S fault. Well that just won't fly anymore. This is SOMEONE'S fault. So where do you suggest we should lay the blame?
Another thing:
"Fort Wayne was not the only city to put off fixing combined sewers."
What does this have to do w/ anything? Why do I care what other cities' officials have neglected doing? Until now, I have never lived in a city that had CSO.
When was the sewage task force formed? Was it before the EPA stepped in or after?
Isn't it true that the city was NOT proactive? That they only made the changes because the EPA mandated it? And even then they waited several YEARS before acting on it?
Jeff,
Kevin is right the Mayor and city counsil have nothing to do with FWCS. FWCS is a seperate government entitiy just like Allen County. FWCS's borders do not coinside with Fort Wayne's and board members are elected and have taxing authority.
That being said, the mayor appears to be in part behind the effort as rumors have it the new Science and Technology center will be built in Lawton Park after the Mayor gives FWCS the park....
However, all bets are off because if FWCS in fact adopts a 5-600 million plan there may not be room left for the city or coutny to bond again for a while.... This may kill the stadium and any other capital improvement from the city or county.
Jon,
I think it's incredibly stupid to give a school board taxing authority. They are only responsible for the schools - in essence they are a special interest group.
Having said that, as you suggest, the mayor and city council are still affected in a significant way by the school board's decisions and thus I'm sure still wield influence. Of course, the mayor's leaving so this won't be his problem anymore - coincidence? I think not...
The school board not only have taxing authority but the FWCS budget is larger than the city's budget and Allen County's Budget combined. FWCS is also allen County's second largest employer, second only to parkview. (not a good thing when the public sector and a service industry is your two largest employers) The mayor has about as much influence on FWCS as he has with the county counsil or county commisioners. That is to say he can pick up his phone and talk to us, but ultimatly the board has total autonomy.
The scary thing here is that the bond being discussed is so large that it will have a direct effect on city and county government. If FWCS even gets half of what their asking for it may effect the 2% circuit breaker and could possibly limit any additional bonding from any other governing body till its paid off.. This includes down town development, stadiums... etc....
The Yellow ribbon task force may show restraint. I have my doubts about my fellow boardmembers and I have no doubt about the administration. This could seriously negatively effect the areas economic health and as real estate taxes go up.... market value goes down.
Wow-this subject is generating alot of talk. This was also the talk back story on News Sentinel. Unfortunately those people all thought it was wonderful except me. I thought I was well informed but was totally unaware that FWCS board has taxing authority. The idea that improving the buildings will improve learning is ridiculous and just a way for the schools to get the funding. Personally, I was amazed that $390,000 was spent just to find out what needs to be fixed! There are alot of good points on this one. Rise in property tax, real estate values down, new residents down, not being able to make other improvements etc. The people in charge in this town don't know how to manage money or know how to bring it in except from homeowners and smokers. And since when do schools have to have AC? Itis only hot MAYBE 6 weeks out of the entire school year. Alot of students have went to school without AC in the past and learned fine. It would be better to dismiss school early if it got too hot than to spend all that money putting in AC. They need to spend more time teaching kids not to cut class to protest rights for illegal aliens and to concentrate more on their studies instead of trying to be the latest fashion statement. And oh, bring back teachers being able to discipline students.