Letter To The Editor – I Do NOT Stand For Higher Taxes!

To The Editor:
I am writing this letter in response to Gina Goodermote’s recent correspondence that was published in the Eastwick Press. While I certainly appreciate Goodermote’s attempt to notify the District of my views, I felt it would be better if you heard it directly from me.
Goodermote’s letter indicates that the District is without other options. What she doesn’t know is that a few years back the Board met dozens of times to develop a list of viable long term options. This was before Goodermote’s first term, but other options were indeed discussed by the board. Most of these other options would cost much less than moving forward with the current plan.
As far as Goodermote’s statement that I want to spend the money from the District’s reserve accounts, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Actually, I was one of two people who voted against this while Goodermote supported it. This year’s budget is supplemented by an additional $1 million of savings. If we are making a move that will save us so much money we wouldn’t have to use our reserves.
The idea that we will have an 18% tax increase if we don’t follow Gregory’s lead is also untrue. The proposed budget includes portable classrooms that will cost $500,000 and this does NOT include the utility and heating services. In addition, the architects hired by our District with your tax dollars recommended against using portable classrooms because it is not cost effective. They stated that their experience indicated that it actually costs less to build a permanent structure.
Will there be savings from closing Grafton? Absolutely, but not enough to offset the cost of the portables let alone the millions of dollars needed to repair the Berlin building. Don’t forget you were told a few months ago by board members that the state will be pulling our certificate of occupancy for the Berlin building due to its poor condition. I am truly concerned for every person in that building because I know full well that there are serious issues such as mold, asbestos, flaking lead paint, elevated radon levels, septic and air quality problems.
I believe my voting history speaks for itself. I voted against the referendum because it lacked transparency and stability. I voted against putting the superintendent search on hold because we need to move forward with long term planning. I also voted against adopting the current budget because it was discussed at a workshop and not at the regular meeting where the taxpayers could hear our concerns.
It is my hope that we can change how business is performed in the District by involving and informing the taxpayers. We have taken our focus away from the children, education, and the unity that our district once had. It is time that we got back on track.
Bev Stewart
Board of Education
These views are my own as a taxpayer.