To the editor:
I’m really feeling like the Mountainview Elementary Union School Board is throwing money away. They have already paid $15,000 for an analysis of the Woodbury Elementary School fire escape. If they go forward, the cost of an architect could be around $50,000, with the rebuilding of the fire escape costing around $400,000.
We have been told that the budget they adopted does not include monies for any of the fire escape repairs. So they have spent $15,000 not having a clue where funds will come from for the rest of the costs to actually get the project done.
How is this being fiscally responsible? Stop wasting taxpayers money.
How can the school even operate if the fire escape is not up to code and there, as far as taxpayers are being told, is no money budgeted for the repair? Is that not a safety issue?
Then let’s talk about the water issue that has been going on for years. How much money has been spent to purchase water? Again, a safety issue and throwing money away.
The elevator repair cost is around $100,000, with no money budgeted for the repair.
We have an elementary school in the district where all students can get an education. That school also needs repairs. Maybe, just maybe, if the board would focus on one school to keep up to code then we would have one school that would be safe for all students to attend and less financial burden on taxpayers.
I will be voting no to the MVU budget because I cannot support sending students to a school that is not safe.
I cannot support a budget that would rather keep sinking money into a building we don’t need.
I cannot support a budget that cuts direct instruction positions needed in one school to keep another building open that is in horrible shape with no funds to fix it.
Enough is enough.
Doreen Cota
Hardwick
