Board considers next steps for school projects

The Fairfield Community School Board of Directors held a work session Thursday evening to discuss how to proceed with the proposed high school addition and remodeling project and the districtwide geothermal projects.

?We know the referendum went down in flames,? said board president Gail Miller, referring to the special election held April 6.

The ballot question, which asked if the school district could borrow up to $29,955,000 by issuing general obligation bonds to fund the high school remodel and add-on phased project and the elementary and middle schools air handling systems project, received 2,410 no votes and 551 yes votes.

The second question, which asked if the school district could levy up to $4.05 per $1,000 of taxable valuation to pay bonded indebtedness, received 2,510 no votes and 451 yes votes.

Each of the measures needed a yes vote from 60 percent of participating voters to pass. On the bonding measure, 18.6 percent voted yes, and 81.4 percent voted no. On the tax levy measure, 15.2 percent voted yes, and 84.8 percent voted no.

?That vote was for you people to straighten up and watch your money,? said Jerry Nelson, who opposes the high school plan. ?You just had two opportunities to say no to new administrators? salaries and didn?t do it. You have to see the other side of things.?

?The economy is bad. There?s no jobs. The U.S. is going broke,? said Gary Manley, who also opposes the proposed plan. ?You guys are spinning your wheels, and you need to get your head out of the sand and decide what to do. ? You can?t take this same plan and turn it around a little and have people vote for it. It?s not gonna happen.?

?You have a severe disconnect with the community,? said Phil Huff. ?Most people don?t understand [the plans and the financing]. I don?t. They need clarity. ? People don?t understand why more space is needed when enrollment is going down.?

Huff said the high school is a cornerstone of the community and he doesn?t think anyone is opposed to spending ?big bucks? on it, but ?to throw that big number and the HVAC at the same time is too much.?

Most of the problems with the building are maintenance issues not structural ones, Huff said.

?The building is solid,? he said. ?It is worth extensively renovating. ? The interior walls aren?t weight bearing, so you could do a lot in there. ? You need to separate what we wish for and what we can do ? what?s economically feasible.?

For the complete article, see the Friday, June 25, 2010, printed edition of The Fairfield Ledger.