At the end of last night’s select community meeting to help prioritize the School District facility needs, Supt. Dave LaRose tried to address the earlier questions and concerns about our District’s long history of poorly maintained school facilities.
Damage Control
He agreed that if the community makes this significant bond expenditure, the next question on everybody’s mind would be, how is the District going to support, sustain and protect this major investment? He tried to calm those concerns by suggesting that this time under his watch the District would not be repeating the same past neglect.
Funding Backup
He was sincere. But unless the state Legislature starts adequately funding school maintenance statewide, there is not going to be enough funding in our District to back up his words.
What Cost Maintenance?
If the District is serious about changing its ways on maintaining facilities, it needs to establish the annual cost. Then the community can start to discuss how to fund this endeavor so we don’t find ourselves once again needing to pass another costly bond.
Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLaase@aol.com
