TO THE VOTERS OF BARNSTEAD

WARRANT ARTICLE FOR SCHOOL EXPANSION

I would never argue that the primary responsibility we have to our children and community in Barnstead is to provide a safe, quality education for our children. I am not only a champion of quality education but I also believe that the future of our children, our town and our country depends on our actions today.

As a parent with children attending Barnstead Elementary School, I would be the first to agree that parts of the school are worn, it is not that well maintained the gym is small and there should be a cafeteria along with a full remodel; one with reasonable goals and expectations.

However, the $18,000,000 remodel being proposed by the current school board is not necessary nor is it being considered at a time that is economically ideal.

The floor plans reveal a mish-mash of rooms and poorly planned space. I am no expert on school construction but this plan appears to call for the demolition of a wing that is not that old, the addition of extras like an art room, industrial arts room, consumer science room, music classroom and chorale room and a new gym. Has anyone looked at a remodel, addition of space and improvement of the gym that might cost, say $4 or $5 million?

How does building a new gym, a road, etc. translate into need for more space? Shouldn’t we be planning for useful space without the frills?

The math on this project is also questionable. Presently we educate about 540 students with 55,600 square feet and according to the Barnstead School Board; the new facility will educate 850 students and be 128,400 square feet. In 2000 the enrollment in Barnstead Elementary was 540 students, climbing to 600 in 2002 and is presently at or around the 2000 level with 545 students.

The School Board projects that in the next seven years that enrollment will increase to 760 students based on NH OEP estimates, projecting a 7.1% increase in population growth in Barnstead. However, the NH OEP states the following:

“Population projections are not predictions. The projection process attempts to

identify probable assumptions and then extend those assumptions, via a

mathematical technique, into the future. By themselves, the projections herein can

serve as a general guide to likely future population trends. The projections can also

serve as a beginning to alternative projection efforts. The OEP encourages data

users to view the projections herein as a point of departure in developing their own

projections.”

NH OEP further states:

“The population age, birth to 14, is projected to decline 7% by the year 2015 then

increase to about the same level it was in 2000 by the end of the projection period”

Two questions beg; how accurate are the conclusions by the Barnstead School Board Space Needs Committee? Is this renovation about space needs and constraints or about adding new curriculum and expanded staffing?

The question that goes unanswered is what impact this will have on the labor side of the issue. How many new teachers, administrators, maintenance staff, etc. will be added and how much will that impact the property tax?

Another question for the Board concerns the increased cost of operation of this new school including energy and maintenance; how will that impact the property tax?

For many years I have watched in amazement as those who staunchly support school expansion and embrace the institution and the needs as ‘essential’, change their view and turn against those initiatives after their children leave the system.

Over those same years, many elected to the school board have attempted to leave their legacy on the community with the fulfillment of their vision of doing something grand and expanding the school.

PROSPECT MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL

We were told a few years ago that Prospect Mountain would not work and we needed our own high school along with an expansion of the elementary school. Taking a look at those plans today, according to the present school board’s assessment, we would still need to expand the present elementary school size with a plan like this. In reality, the attendance has not grown in those years, in fact, it has declined. Is there no end to the thirst for expansion?

Doesn’t anyone remember the cost overruns for Prospect Mountain? Does anyone think that the cost of this bond would not be far higher than $18,000,000? The question begs…..where does it all end? Building of new schools or any large project for that matter, seldom comes in on budget…most of us know that for a fact!

Prospect Mountain cost $20,000,000 and represents the shared burden of two towns. This project is asking taxpayers to pony up what a few years ago, everyone considered a sum of money too large for one town to finance alone.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Barnstead Elementary School is the largest employer in town with approximately 90 employees. The new plan calls for a road circling the school (which I am not sure is taking safety into consideration) with a parking lot that will handle 120 cars. That sounds like a large addition of staff to me.

Reading the story in the Baysider, I became annoyed by several comments.

Randy Remick of BPS Corporation explained that construction costs increase an average of 10 percent annually. According to the American Association of Architects, it is expected that the cost of building schools will increase 4.1% in 2008. The trend has historically run at 2.9% on average annually. This year’s increase is directly related to the cost of energy (specifically oil).

Committee member Dave Gregoire was quoted as saying: “Grin and bear it, people, we need this building and we need it now.” I seldom place much faith in a person preaching to me; much less someone smug enough to ask anyone to: “grin and bear it”! Mr. Gregoire may have done a lot of “looking and examining” but it appears that it was not thorough enough and smells of agenda, not consensus.

Dan Bisson of Team Design stated that although this project would go out to bid that “we know the cost going in”. Having recent experience in construction of over 65 retail commercial projects, I can assure the voters of Barnstead that no one knows the “cost going in”, bids vary wildly and rarely do projects come in flawless, on budget or on time.

POLITICS OR NEED?

That brings us to the way that the Board cleverly skirted this issue to go against the budget committee deadlock on this warrant article by adding new language and circumventing provisions of RSA 32:18-A. Not only does that smack of agenda on the part of the board but shows the expectation that if the turnout of the townspeople is low, they will ramrod the warrant through.

Judy Chase is partially correct that that renovation of the school may be a “need” but it is not the “need” that the committee is suggesting.

This is a rush attempt to force a poorly planned project on the taxpayers of Barnstead who are already over taxed at a time of economic uncertainty.

This plan is long on wish list and short on reasoned analysis of what is economical and practical. It does not address the extraneous cost of the new school facility and what impact that will have on the tax base. It projects a need for a school of 850 students that will be over twice the size of the present school while school growth has declined, not increased, over the past two years.

This also comes at a time when there is pressure to construct a municipal complex (another discussion of need for another day) and increased costs due to a rough winter that has depleted the road budget and once the snow melts will call for what will more than likely be extensive repairs to most roads in town.

This is the wrong project at the wrong time; planned with the wrong agenda in mind. The project is too large and too expensive and voters should think long and hard before allowing the passage of this warrant article.

The website Buildings.com aptly reports the following concerning all construction, specifically schools, which should be heeded by Barnstead Voters:

“Industry forecasts for the next year acknowledge the worrisome status of the economy as the escalation of utility and building material costs, the housing slump, and status of employment growth all raise concerns. Markets are currently trending well despite these factors, but the true wild card is a possible recession.”

Please attend the March 22^nd meeting and vote “NO” to strengthen the economic situation of all families in Barnstead. Don’t be fooled by the rhetoric and think about renovations to the present school that make fiscal sense. Let’s address the basics and renovate responsibly, economically and use the taxpayers hard earned money wisely.

If you were unsure of the security of your job, were over extended on your credit cards, could barely make your household bills and were having car trouble, would you repair your car or go out and buy a brand new loaded luxury auto? Think of this warrant article in those terms and the choice of what to do will be crystal clear.

Moreover, ponder a $400 to $600 per year increase in property taxes for construction alone. Then consider the cost of the new municipal center and administrative salaries along with those proposed for teachers this year of 8%. Most people will more than likely be staring at minimum a $1000 increase in property taxes; probably closer to $1500 when all is said and done!

On March 22nd, a handful of your fellow citizens will be asking you to raise your hand and commit that over the next 7 or more years if you are willing to write a check from your checkbook for an additional $5,000 to $12,000. That is a commitment that most of us will want to think about; long and hard.

I urge anyone concerned about this issue to send questions and comment or offer your support to the following e-mail:

toobigtooexpensive@Gmail.com