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Comments Posted By gertot
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Board of Education meeting 26 February
I’m sorry to be late in getting back but I was out of town until a few minutes ago.
We grandfathered the seventh and eighth grade students themselves but not any siblings. The number of siblings would have made the overages even greater and would have left the need for two more classrooms .
As to the members not knowing what has transpired, I can only say I believe Holly and Kathie did know the overall plans because the maps and dialog had been shared all the way through the process. When Ms. McManus made her comments to stop the process and continue the status quo after I made the motion to honor the hard work of the committee,
each of us were surprised. I maybe more than the others because Ms. McManus had voted at the only committee meeting she attended to approve scenario D. Holly and Kathie probably wanted to confirm the committee’s work by again looking at the maps. I know Holly and Kathie took this redistricting matter as seriously as did Norman and I so their review of Ms. McManus’ unexpected, off the wall comments was reasonable.To think neither of those two are unprepared for our meetings is not what I think. Holly for her two years in office has been the best prepared of all of the board members. She studies the issues and makes intelligent comments and questions when needed. Kathie also has proven herself to do her homework before the meetings since she has been on the board.
Please observe those two in action and I believe you will agree with what I have stated.
Thanks for your comments. I welcome them.
Comment Posted By gertot On 28.02.2007 @ 18:10
These aren’t the same questions I get from the “community” but I’ll respond anyhow.
Your questions:
1. Yes, the site can be built upon considering the need to overcome a number of challenges.
2. The site is the only one we have now so it is the best site we have.
3a. To my mind - as only one member of the Board of Education, the “drop dead” date for finding an alternative site is the date the County Commissioners make funding available to either locate another site or give the funding to build on this one.
3b. I doubt one could find land anywhere in Chatham County for $1,000 per acre. This question appears to apply to the purchase price 5 1/2 years ago of the Jack Bennett Road property. Perhaps comparable land could be found and we have a schools’ employee looking for it now. If the decision is made to sell the Jack Bennett property and then use the proceeds to purchase more suitable property, it should be sold at fair market value at the time of sale, not the original purchase price.You are ignoring the information sent to your blog about funding limitations forced on the county by the Local Government Commission. Until that commission raises the county’s debt limit or until the county reduces the amount of debt, no school will be built.
The next point which needs to be considered is the handling of waste. Westfall (Booth Mountain) is not yet approved to handle more waste than its own development. That entire process will have to jump started as to state approvals. It makes no difference what the conditions were when the development was approved. If the state will not approve the waste handling upgrade of 15 gallons per student per day that is the end of it!
Governors Club as of today cannot handle their own waste on site on their golf courses and is seeking additional spray irrigation sites. The old agreement with Governors Club is as I wrote you earlier.From your post: “Mike Cross and the other Commissioners walked the site again on Tuesday, and it is their opinion that any additional expenses associated with drainage, soil suitability etc… that you refer to will be far outweighed by the increased cost of acreage if they were to buy an alternative site. Patrick Barnes, one of the Commissioners, owns a construction company, and this is his professional opinion too.”
This is news but since they write the checks, it seems all of the other comments and efforts are reduntant and all we need do is wait for the money to flow, doesn’t it?
Comment Posted By gertot On 10.02.2007 @ 18:08
December 18th Re-Districting Committee Meeting
Each member of the board has one vote. I have heard nothing about the board redrawing the district lines themselves and feel common sense will prevail. Like you and the other folks with children I’d like to be able to put this chapter behind us on the 26th. You deserve to know.
The majority at our meeting at Siler City Elementary favored the “D” map as did I. Ms. McManus voted that way too I believe. My opinion has not changed nor have I heard from Norman Clark who was on the committee but could not be at the last meeting.
Thank you for your kind words about my support of Silk Hope - I hope folks from all over the county will feel that way too.
Comment Posted By gertot On 16.02.2007 @ 19:39