Letter to the editor: school funds

Letter to the Editor                                                                                      

I am confused…no, I am disappointed…actually, I am upset and have been since 2007.

On Tuesday April 24, 2007 Independent School District 204 (K-M) held a special election authorizing the issue of general obligation bonds in the amount of $5.2 million for the acquisition and betterment of school facilities, including improvements to the elementary school and junior-senior high school.  The issue passed. 

Perhaps you will remember that the purpose of the election was to add classrooms to the elementary school, make improvements to the science rooms at the junior-senior high school and perform some deferred maintenance to our schools.

Let’s look at the issue of the science classroom improvements.  One month before the election, on March 21, 2007, Mr. Grant in his “K-M Update” column wrote;  “The science classroom plan is being planned with flexibility for new classrooms or renovated ones dependent on the success of the middle school vote.  If the middle school plan does not get public approval, the dollars assigned for the renovation will be used for additional science classrooms.  A new middle school would allow present middle school classrooms to be utilized for new science room spaces.” [The middle school referendum was held June 19 and also passed.] 

Again in his “K-M Update” on April 4, 2007 Mr. Grant wrote; “The School Board proposes to modernize the present science classrooms and add new science classrooms.  The degree to which that occurs will depend on whether a new middle school will be approved on June 19.  If a new middle school is approved by the voters, the classrooms in the middle school wing will be converted to new science classrooms.  The present science classrooms would then be renovated for regular classroom use.  If the middle school is not approved, the need for more science classrooms will be accomplished by adding new science classrooms to the high school site and modernizing some of the present science rooms and renovating others for additional classroom use.” 

The language on the printed election ballot was necessarily brief.  However, as I read the aforementioned information before the April 24, 2007 referendum, I assumed that information presented by the District Superintendent in a formal “K-M Update” column printed in the official district newspaper would be an accurate “official” use of approved taxpayer dollars.

Later that year in Mr. Grant’s performance evaluation by the Board, it was stated; “The board was in general agreement the K-M superintendent did an outstanding job in being the primary spokesperson to the public for the two recent successful bond referendums.  Ellingworth said she felt Mr. Grant exceeded his expectations in working with the public and community on the bond referendums and was also outstanding in board relations.  Board member Mark Packard said he believed Grant had a lot of credibility with the public, which was a factor in passing the referendums.”  This evaluation confirms to me that Mr. Grant’s columns were an accurate representation of the board’s official stated use of the referendum dollars.

On June 19, 2007 the Independent School District 204 (K-M) voters approved the middle school referendum.  You can imagine my surprise when the six new classrooms appeared on the west end of the junior-senior high school.  To me that borders on misappropriation of taxpayer approved dollars, ethically at least.

On February 8, 2011 the board will be asking for $8.975 million to upgrade the high school.  Some of the upgrades planned are upgrades to the old middle school wing. Voters, in my opinion, had already approved money for upgrades to this wing in 2007.  A large portion of the 2007 referendum funds appear to have been diverted to build new classrooms rather than to renovate the existing wing contrary to published intentions.

Is there any integrity in our district?  Is there any accountability in our district?  I intend to VOTE NO on any upcoming bond election, and I urge others to also VOTE NO, until there is better accountability of how our tax dollars are spent.

Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
If your inclination is to vote NO like me, I suggest you make it a priority to get out to the high school on February 8, and make your vote count.  Historically special elections (referendums) do not get the number of voters participating as do general elections.  Many times, I believe, this results in a predicted outcome.  Perhaps this is another indication of our district administration’s integrity.


                    Jerry Berg
                    Kasson