What Exactly Were We "Listening" to at Those Sessions?

We would like to highlight a  comment posted from "Beloiter" because it sums up the unbelievably rapid evolution of this referendum from the eyes of someone who was obviously a keen observer of the entire mysterious process -- one that has left our heads spinning.

Beloiter wrote:
"Rushed, heck, this referendum was pushed from zero up to seventy million dollars at "light speed". It went from some discussions of "school building repairs" at the first "informational meeting" to tearing down schools and building new schools in just a few weeks. I didn't hear one person at the "informational meetings" request anything like the school superintendent is now pushing.

Even the repairs that were first brought up, would not have added up to the dollars that they were asking for at that time. Surveys had not been done on roof repairs, and quotes had not been sought. There were no hard numbers, only inadequate generalities with almost no specifics.

This whole thing is fishy, and needs to be voted down."

We would like to make note also of the fact that the power point presentations at the "informational meetings" and "listening sessions"  did not present anything close to what has actually come to the public for a vote. The initial presentations addressed needs at every school, including Aldrich and McNeel. On the first page of the power point was a photograph of the BMHS Jazz Band, a very worthy program which, along with theater, orchestra, and choir, is a part of the fine arts department at the high school.  Deeper in the power point presentation was a mention of directing referendum funds to fine arts. Well, that was the presentation, but it was not the reality. Aldrich Middle School strangely disappeared from the list of "most needy" facilities and was removed from the referendum along with McNeel Middle School and the fine arts department at BMHS.  We will never know why because there was never a vote by the board to remove these items from the list of referendum beneficiaries. It appears to have been decided by one person -- Superintendent Steve McNeal. Once again, we want to make it perfectly clear, if it is not listed on the referendum, it cannot be funded by the referendum. If this passes, it will be another 20 years before these buildings and programs get what they need. With budget cuts and decreases in state aid ahead of us, it is critical that any referendum that passes include all of the needs of our students and all of the schools.