Madison Central's $16.98 million bond issue for the new gym and high school renovation failed yesterday, but a tour of the building will demonstrate that we could certainly do a lot to improve our high school... if we have the money.
Thus, the latest Madville Times poll on what I'm calling Plan C: What building project should Madison Central propose next?
- Is the original plan the best option for fixing the high school? Should we thus submit that same plan to the voters again and simply campaign harder?
- Should we scale the plan back to fix the high school and drop the gym?
- Do I have it backwards: should we pass on the renovations and focus on building a new gym for the potential economic benefits of a 2500-seat arena?
- Should we throw in the fiscal towel, abandon any building plan for now, and focus on the general fund and keeping teachers on the job?
- Or is there some other building option that would serve our students and community better... or would at least be good enough to get 60% voter approval? If you see a better plan than those mention here, outline it in the comment section below!
Let the community know what you think in the poll right here at the top of the near sidebar. I'll keep this poll open through the weekend; we'll talk numbers Monday.
When the bond issue does pass, it will be because our district leaders came forward with a renovation plan (which they have) that people feel is affordable, necessary and sustainable. If you look at the numbers, I'm very proud of the work the district and the committee did. I'll take a 50-50 split any day on the first try. Studying the Wards and the Rural Vote shows you where you need to work harder, talk to more people and have a larger committee to spread the responsibilities. There will probably be an effort to expand private funding from alumni and businesses, some savings may be identified, but it if were me, I'd come forward with a similar plan with tweaks and simply have a larger working committee with much more advertising, signs and phone calling plus door-to-door campaigns to inform the voters. I'd also visit with the colony leaders and voters to balance Neal McIntyre's efforts. The current proposal needs 60%, but it was only 3 votes short of a simple majority of support, so I'm pleased with the results so far.
Rod, we are pleased that you think we have such an influence. We don't. We just aren't afraid to put our opinions in writing.
You want a larger committee to spread the responsibilities. Funny, that word, responsibility. That is the entire problem here. The way this plan would have been paid for is irresponsible, expecting those who would pay thousands a year to fund the majority of it. Simply preaching that we should pony up and take it is irresponsible.
Still no mention of the word that probably killed this proposal. The GYM! And then the way the whole early voting was conducted, the memory of which is not going away soon.
Oh, and contrary to what Dr. Sweet commented before, somehow I don't think the majority of the farmers and ranchers in this district would consider themselves land barons. If I win the lottery some day and can amass enough to BECOME a land baron, he will be the first I will tell!
I'll volunteer our studio services to any plan that helps address the issues and broadens public support. It's one way that we can contribute. Just say the word and we will help.
Linda, I don't think that the gym had as much to do with the defeat of the bond issue as you might think. I'm sure it was a factor, but was it the real cause? Someone might want to canvas the no voters and find out what turned them off the most.
It's back to the real world for me. I've been spending too much time lately dwelling on this and a couple of other political issues I cannot control instead of paying attention to my business and family. Good luck to all and please let me know if I can ever help.
I think Linda hit the nail on the head! The GYM was the issue. The school does have issues and should be brought up to code for the safety of the students and access for all the students. The vote may have been different if the gym hadn't been attached to the upgrading. We've already had several things put on the tax levy that we all do not use that are less important than the safety of the school children. I think people are tired of things rammed down their throats because someone "wants" it. There are alternatives to having the best gym in the area. How about the best educated students in a safe - up to code school. Remarks by the DSU president about the "no voters" on this project going to the high school and explaining to the kids why they don't support the project was really a poor comment(via Twitter). We support the kids any way we can and it should be known that adding on millions for gym expansions is not the way to do it.
Hi- I was a no vote on the proposal and it had nothing to do with the gym. I believe that the school needs a new gym but with us being in a recession right now I just don't think it was the time for this. I was still thinking I might say yes though until I found out that part of this money was to be used for a "culinary class" and to update the "pottery class". I also found out that the only bids they got were here in Madison. Whatever happened to if you want to take culinary class or more advanced pottery classes that you sign up for them somewhere and pay for them yourselves? Also, because this is tax payer money that was going to be used, wouldn't it best if more bids were brought in? I understand trying to keep it in Madison, but sometimes getting other bids can also keep people honest. The school board threw other things in there and tried to hide them by saying things needed to be up to code. Everything needed to be spelled out for all to see. After hearing everything and then looking at the fact that there are so many of us pinching pennies right now I just felt it wasn't the time. If the school board wants a gym, then before I say yes to it, I want to see multiple bids and know exactly what my taxes will be going for. I do not and will not support a culinary class, or updated pottery class. Thank you.
Face it folks, voters of the Madison School District haven't passed a 60%er since about 1963 and aren't about to change their ways.
This whole discussion would be better if everyone would have the courtesy to use full names...yes their real names and not internet handles or nicknames. I belong to several professional forums on the internet. Before we are allowed to post, we must prove who we are and that we are accountable for what we say. The moderators of these forums run a very tight ship and while there are spirited discussions, we keep banter professional even if we disagree. I realize that political blogs don't seem to follow the rules, but Cory could enforce the real name thing.
Your thoughts...
Just as I wondered when Winner School Board started a campaign for a ridiculous building plan, and built the case on all the repairs that were needed. Unfortunately, the repairs that were needed were mostly the result of mediocre maintenance and supervision over the years.
My question then and now, "Why should taxpayers give school boards and administrators that have let buildings deteriorate a new building?
Winner just got the reduced version bond paid off and now wants to close the building since enrollment has steadily declined.. with decline starting before the building was even finished.
The buildings aren't for the school board or administrators. They are for the students.
I use Grandma. My name is Ruth Heidelberger and I think most know who I am. Yes, SuperSweet, we know that the buildings are for the kids. Keep the building and update anything that isn't code. Don't add to the project by putting the millions added on for the for gym. That's another whole project that could honestly wait until the economy is good or better. Academic scholarships should be #1. The percentage of students going to DSU and other universities with academic scholarships, etc. represent a larger share than the sports I would think. Sports are good but not number 1 in high school learning. Priorities priorities priorities. I don't believe any of the administrators at MHS is making a living with sports. They have an honest to goodness education from a university (probably with academic scholarships) with good high school academics in their background. Hopefully from a good - up to code building.
I voted no on this issue for two main reasons. The first, and most influential for me, was the gym. I understand the need for new or updated facilities, but if we are going to spend almost $17 million in the interest in education, then lets spend it on education. Sports are a huge thing here in Madison, but we need to focus on the education to ensure that we continue to send out bright young minds into the world.
The other reason for my vote is that we are currently in the middle of an economic nightmare. Depending on who you talk to, or better yet, who you believe, we are out of the recession or nearing the really bad part of it. Until we are on more stable financial ground nationally, and locally, we should not be spending such a sizable chunk of money on facilities that would be nice, but aren't necessarily needed. For instance in one of the brochures that I read one of the items being updated/installed was air conditioning so that not just the classrooms were cooled. If the economy was thriving, jobs were prevalent, and people were not having a hard time just keeping their homes, I would be all for it. However, we are not in a sunshine and lollipops environment right now. There wasn't air in the hallways in 1995 when I graduated and no one died, so I think we can hold off until a better fiscal picture develops.
I can see the need for the updates to the library, the classrooms, and bringing the building up to code (which I do not know what condition code would be for a school so the air conditioning may be part of it), but lets look at it through a lens common sense thrifty behavior. If I read the brochure right they are looking at building an entirely new library. Well, it may be archaic in the access/special needs department, but the current library could be modified with a ramp or lift of some kind to ensure accessibility at a much lower cost. Yes it is something that is needed, but we may need to scale back to just what is needed, not wanted if people really want to get this bond measure passed. We don't need to keep up with the Jones', just keep up with code for now.
Cory, Sean's second reason for voting "no" shows that the district's message did not reach the masses.
The original heating system depended on air entering the classrooms, flowing through vents in the doors and returning via the hallways. Firecodes were enacted that forced the closure of the door vents. Ventilation flow was compromised. Some of the school has had airconditioning added.
A small note on John Sweet's point about our stubborn electorate: we did pass our 2006 opt-out with a 60.7% yes vote. We extended the opt-out last year with a 69% Yes vote. I am intrigued to note that our opt-out votes in 2002 and 2006 had higher voter turnout than Tuesday's vote when much moer money was at stake.
People who are concerned about how much money its going to cost for this gym-- the cost back in '07 has been cut in half for the same size gym. I think if we sit back another 3 years our concerns of cost might be pennies, or hell, maybe it'll be donated at that time. Maybe hold a few car washes. :D :D
Trying to lighten the mood here a little bit.
Like most of us, I support updating the high school. It comes down to "how much" and "what for" to get a plan passed by a margin of greater than 60%.
I'm going to ask the questions that no one will ask, but everyone is talking about since the election:
Is it physically possible to bring the building up to ADA standards, comply with the firecode and redo the locker rooms and auditorium without losing the gym or altering the basic footprint of the building?
Could everything stay in about the same place with updated lighting, HVAC, windows and security?
Can the library be made accessible with a simple handicapped ramp?
Can we bring the building up to date without moving every wall and do it over a period of two summers without affecting classrooms during the school year?
The original plan had additions that allowed the current gym space to be used for fine arts. Since the gym seems to be a major point of contention, what problems cannot be addressed due to lack of space like the locker rooms if the gym stays in it's current location, size and use?
Can it be done for less than $5 million?
The tour explained many of these issues, but most people did not go on the tour. Most people did not bother to even vote. It would've been better if everyone had and asked questions...lots of questions. The original plan may easily be the best one but the public needs to know why doing A, lets the school do B, C and D and how that will benefit students that they know.
Just to throw it out there...
I'd like to see an architectural design contest, and challenge them to create a low-cost, high efficency, rural community school design, with a reasonable cost, let's make it interesting and say awards would be given at certain cost points. Can it be done for 5 million or 7 million, maybe, and this might just prove to be a design model for other rural communities to follow.
I'd like to see really innovative designs, maybe even straw-bales and compacted earthen walls, or even lots of glass, recycled materials from the former building perhaps, green roofs, see what they can come up with. I do think it would be worthwhile to consider what an educational building could look like and function, beyond the accepted norms, and perhaps, our community could be more of a part of this process too.
Crowd-sourced, local, sustainable architecture—worth looking into! Imagine a community school-raising to put up straw-bale classrooms!
I think the idea is worthwhile, and let's really consider what makes up an educational facility, what's needed, what can be done better, and how each and every space can be used to its full potential (and with a true focus on green and sustainability, alongside a reasonable budget too)
That's kind of the thought behind an open design call, let's see what can be created from a world-wide pool, and go from there. I'd be excited how a building of this nature would become a draw and value for Madison area residents. (and if the design holds true, it could prove to be an incredible model for other rural communities, I wonder if we can research other existing examples/models...)