Editorial: A good change of course

Thursday, 15 October 2009 00:00

It was refreshing to see the school district and board reverse course last week and back a plan for athletic fields that was not the one they initially preferred — and was not the most expensive option.

After hearing that Campus Congress — the governing body of John Jay High School, comprised of more than 50 students — unanimously backed a plan that was different, and cheaper, than the one recommended by the district and informally supported by the board, school board members decided to follow suit, resulting in a proposal that basically meets all the athletic fields demands, benefits the musical department, and comes with a price tag that would be entirely covered by the capital reserve. One softball field in this proposal will not be repaired, but a new one is being built.

Voters still will have the final say on the plans, as a public vote is scheduled for Dec. 8. As that date nears, many of them will understandably question why the district is looking to spend millions of dollars on athletics fields while economic conditions are so poor that a contingency school budget for 2010-11 would likely carry a 0% increase because of the debilitated state of the Consumer Price Index (CPI). However, they need to keep in mind that the more than $3 million in the reserve has restrictions that greatly limit its use, and that the reserve was approved by voters earlier this year to be spent specifically on athletic fields, cultural arts facilities, classroom repairs, and heating and ventilation work only. With lowering taxes not on that list, this may be the best option available — and is definitely an improvement over the more costly plan the district initially liked, then thankfully ignored.