FWCS Failing First Fiscal Responsibility Test
Posted by Jeff Pruitt - 2/25/09 @ 6:15 pm - Filed Under Featured, Local Politics
Remember when we were told that FWCS was going to build taxpayer trust by focusing on fiscal responsibility for smaller projects? Well it looks like they are failing their first test:
When the project to renovate two gymnasiums at Wayne High School into classroom space for the New Tech program was first proposed, administrators said the cost would be about $1.5 million. The actual bid came in at $960,285 from Fort Wayne-based Shawnee Construction and Engineering Inc. as presented at Monday night’s board meeting.
The problem is that $1.99 million worth of bonds is being sold today to pay for the construction plus other costs of the bond. [...] Chief Financial Officer Kathy Friend said the bond amount couldn’t be changed because it may have affected the sale and the district might not have gotten the money.
Ok, that’s perfectly reasonable. The estimate was off; these things happen. So we’re actually just borrowing more than we need. It means we can pay down the bond faster right? (Insert laughter):
Superintendent Wendy Robinson said the additional money will go toward making technology and sound-system renovations at Wayne, which she stressed will be used by New Tech students as well.
[...]
“It’s really a win-win for us,” she said of the work, which is to be completed by Aug. 7.
So instead of paying back the money early the district has simply found another area to spend the money. And a sound system at that. Big surprise…
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7 Responses to “FWCS Failing First Fiscal Responsibility Test”
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Jeff:
I love the quote from Wendy Robinson.
How exactly is this a “win-win”? Didn’t they screw up and then use the bond for something it wasn’t intended for in the first place?
You have to have two good things for a win-win, not a screw up.
Of course you all know that this is the way all governmental spending is treated in Fort Wayne and Allen County - witness the use of $5 millon State of Indiana Tax Credits that were issued for a McDonalds/Salvation Army facility on Wells Street for the building of(maybe) the Harrison condos and downtown retail.
Also, the use of a Federal earmark arranged by our representative Souder to build a bridge over human waste, almost 10 years after it was no longer needed (read Maplecrest Extension to Meyer Road. Note that I-469, especially it’s junction with Meyer Road, eliminated 90% of the need for this bridge.
When I was a kid my mother would send me to the store with ten bucks to get groceries. I’d spend seven and since I “saved” her three bucks I’d wouldn’t give it back.
Hey, Wendy’s just keeping the change.
Evert:
Unfortunately, my mother always collects the change. Guess that’s why the Kelty’s aren’t in power :P
The funding for this project is unnecessary. As a past substitute at WHS, there is plenty of classroom space within the build that could be utilized. I do believe that the majority of the courses are still 90 minutes in length, and teachers have prep periods. Meaning for one hour and thirty minutes there is a classroom that is sitting vacant; thus, one teacher could travel from room one to another. Not ideal, however, the individual could produce a small cheap office area - I believe there are vacant offices from what I saw.
What the public sees is a great public realtions stunt! Knowing that Wayne has the worst ISTEP passing rate, and high student and maybe even staff arrest rate in FWCS, a GOOD parent would not place their child in that environment. Thus, if you could seperate the good students from the bad, and keep them away from the general population, FWCS creates buy-in from middle-class parents who may choose to send their child to another school - Snider, Northrup, North Side or Bishop Luers. I see this as nothing but a terrible PR stunt with a horrible results for the tax payer.
I must commend IPS’ Dr. White for closing schools to save money! The day Robinson leaves office and takes her chronies with her will be the best tax day in FW.
Neil-
That’s probably because you didn’t learn to keep a low profile when you came back from the store. What’s so amazing is that the district doesn’t just keep the money, and have their $60,000/yr. PR person utter a few of her patented platitudes for public consumption. Instead they consider this kind of arrogance as an opportunity for positive PR.
Tossing all this money at ANY school is like throwing crap at a wall…
Sooner or later SOME of it is bound to STICK.
Trouble with THAT thinking, is that it’s OUR MONEY being tossed.
I much prefer to CHOOSE where, when and how it should be spent.
Then again, I’m from an educational system driven by personal responsibility, accountability (on both sides of the school desk)and a willingness to challenge ONESELF.
And we did it ALL (and more) for a LOT LESS MONEY.
Perhaps we should “revisit” THAT venue?