We need a sensible plan

In my opinion here are some things that need to be addressed with the superintendent and Sparta BOE. 1. Develop a facilities plan that makes sense! We were told for three years that we needed to build a new high school and we were also told renovating the old high school would not do the job because it would not address the elementary school problem. Last year I stated that I could not support the current plan because there was no land. After another year and no progress, we were told at a board meeting on Feb. 13, that the board had looked at six plans and had decided to abandon the new high school and renovate the current high school for $73 million dollars. Something that was unacceptable one month prior. The citizens of Sparta were not even given the courtesy of reviewing the other five plans. Then on Feb. 23, the board stated that it would be back after the passage of this $73 million dollar plan with another plan to address the elementary school problem, but for now they are also adding another two million dollars to fix the athletic fields. It is time to develop a sensible plan to address all our problems with a reasonable price tag. It is not impossible. It is done in business every day. I firmly believe that we can develop a plan with a reasonable price tag, if we do what is needed to address educational problems presented by increased enrollment and keep our minds open to all possible solutions. 2. Bring back fiscal sanity to the board of education. The recent pay raise for the Director of Curriculum totally baffles me. The ink was not dry on the state report when Dr. Monk was given a raise. She had signed a contract to work for a certain amount and the superintendent chose to raise that amount substantially when test scores improved because we did not want to loose her. I do not blame Dr. Monk for asking for more money, but the district should not give “merit raises” to administrators when it does not give them to teachers. I wish the superintendent would work as quickly on a facilities plan that can pass. 3. Restore the trust and goodwill lost by the board in the last few years and be a vocal advocate for the children and residents of Sparta. I believe certain board members are already trying to accomplish this. We need a more open and public decision-making process. There should be no surprises at board meetings. We must make board meeting more resident friendly. Residents’ questions must be answered. This education system belongs to the residents of Sparta; they pay the bills, and it is here for the children of Sparta, no one else. Michael Schill, Jr. Sparta