Letter to the Editor:

The “Grand” New Addition to STC High School –

Regarding the proposed addition to the STC High School; understand we are NOT, repeat, NOT against this addition. For those of you who may be unaware; this addition is to eliminate the “portable” classrooms and add this space to the current high school structure. The cost of this addition is now $ 7.6 million, yes MILLION dollars. We have attended a few School Board meetings and asked questions, however, the Superintendent or Board NEVER got back to us with answers. In our opinion, they do not want any taxpayers there at all. They do a very poor job of communicating, publishing meeting dates, agendas etc.

We feel the public should have input on the design and a chance to vote on the increase in our debt. However, at this time, there are NO public meetings planned to discuss/explain this large expenditure. There were no answers to our question as to how much a revenue bond will be or how long it will last.

The money for this project will come from the SAVE fund, a sales tax fund used for school infrastructure. It will need to be repaid. Does enrollment justify this spending (will those students open enrolling come back to STC because of this building)? Time will tell – do you see a growth in good paying jobs, in housing, in our local economy?

Is the money in our account now for us to use – how much money is in our general fund now? Is our current debt on the STC Elementary paid off? No – we are only about half paid off. If we were to spend this amount, is there ANY money left for unforeseen needed repairs? No. Are there areas we can cut down the cost? Yes – but the alternatives in this design are less appealing to the Board.

If we fail to pay this off, can money that should be spent paying off the Elementary be used to pay this off? Yes – and then the debt WOULD be on our property taxes.

Finally, we believe a Board should listen to those DIRECTLY involved with our district’s finances. When the Business Manager states a figure of $5 million would be much better – shouldn’t that be our LIMIT and NOT $ 7.6 million? We believe there is a much more fiscally responsible solution/design to eliminate the Portables and have a contingency for unforeseen expenses or repairs.

Roger Wacha Jr.

Joanne Wacha

Toledo