Wildwood Elementary School
One important aspects of the major shake up proposed by school officials in the bricks and mortar make up of public education in our highly educated town is financial. A burden of course that falls on the taxpayers, which includes ALL residents -- not just homeowners.
For instance the Massachusetts School Building Authority is financed directly out of the somewhat high 6.25% state sales tax.
Therefor renters in town who purchase goods and services pay into the MSBA budget. And of course when property taxes go up landlords tend to pass that along via rent increases.
At $20.54/$1,000 Amherst already has one of the highest property tax rates in the entire state, ranked #14 out of 351. Well over the nearby city of Northampton, ranked #158, at $15.80/$1,000 or Hadley, the hardworking farm town next door, ranked #299 at $10.86/$1,000.
The statewide median average is $15.69/$1,000
Since the proposed funding mechanism is a "Debt Exclusion Override" it will require a two-thirds vote of Amherst Town Meeting, a majority vote of the Select Board to place it on the town ballot and a then majority approval of town voters, all before January 1st, 2017.
And the geriatric average age of Town Meeting could work against the proposal since most of the members no longer have children in the public schools.
The financial chart presented above is designed to show how fiscally responsible the proposal for a new mega-school is compared to the alternative at twice the amount.
But it's a tad disingenuous since it assumes Fort River would be renovated/replaced at 100% town taxpayer cost with Wildwood being renovated/replaced with a 50% reimbursement from MSBA.
And School Committee member Vira Douangmany Cage did point out last night that MSBA does pay for renovations short of complete overhauls via their "Major Repairs & Accelerated Repairs" programs, so if Fort River could be partially renovated with their assistance the overall cost would go down dramatically.
But there's no doubt consolidation saves money. Last night Superintendent Maria Geryk once again cited the $850,000 cost savings that resulted from the bitterly contested closing of Mark's Meadow Elementary School on the UMass campus.
For instance the Massachusetts School Building Authority is financed directly out of the somewhat high 6.25% state sales tax.
Therefor renters in town who purchase goods and services pay into the MSBA budget. And of course when property taxes go up landlords tend to pass that along via rent increases.
At $20.54/$1,000 Amherst already has one of the highest property tax rates in the entire state, ranked #14 out of 351. Well over the nearby city of Northampton, ranked #158, at $15.80/$1,000 or Hadley, the hardworking farm town next door, ranked #299 at $10.86/$1,000.
The statewide median average is $15.69/$1,000
A $200/year tax increase could vault Amherst into the top ten in the state
Since the proposed funding mechanism is a "Debt Exclusion Override" it will require a two-thirds vote of Amherst Town Meeting, a majority vote of the Select Board to place it on the town ballot and a then majority approval of town voters, all before January 1st, 2017.
And the geriatric average age of Town Meeting could work against the proposal since most of the members no longer have children in the public schools.
The financial chart presented above is designed to show how fiscally responsible the proposal for a new mega-school is compared to the alternative at twice the amount.
But it's a tad disingenuous since it assumes Fort River would be renovated/replaced at 100% town taxpayer cost with Wildwood being renovated/replaced with a 50% reimbursement from MSBA.
And School Committee member Vira Douangmany Cage did point out last night that MSBA does pay for renovations short of complete overhauls via their "Major Repairs & Accelerated Repairs" programs, so if Fort River could be partially renovated with their assistance the overall cost would go down dramatically.
But there's no doubt consolidation saves money. Last night Superintendent Maria Geryk once again cited the $850,000 cost savings that resulted from the bitterly contested closing of Mark's Meadow Elementary School on the UMass campus.
Interestingly the Town & Schools had signed a five year "Strategic Partnership Agreement" with UMass in 2007 acknowledging the value of free use of Mark's Meadow.
UMass clearly stated they would return to the negotiation table should Mark's Meadow ever close, which of course it did prior to the ending of the five year contract, which is now three years overdo for signing.
Currently Amherst public schools are educating 56 children emanating from UMass tax exempt family housing at an average annual cost of just over $19,000 per student, or over $1 million.
Yet UMass is now withholding the local option room tax at their Campus Center Hotel in an attempt to strong arm the town into signing a new Strategic Partnership that probably does not include reimbursement for the high education costs of their children.
So before Amherst taxpayers pass an Override for the schools they should require town officials get UMass to pay its fair share.
In addition the Select Board should show strong support for Representative Stephen Kulik's bill to require tax exempt institutions like Hampshire College (who pays the town nothing for AFD services) and Amherst College, who paid $130K this year, to pay 25% of their assessed value as a Payment In Lieu Of Taxes.
UMass clearly stated they would return to the negotiation table should Mark's Meadow ever close, which of course it did prior to the ending of the five year contract, which is now three years overdo for signing.
Currently Amherst public schools are educating 56 children emanating from UMass tax exempt family housing at an average annual cost of just over $19,000 per student, or over $1 million.
Click to enlarge/read
Yet UMass is now withholding the local option room tax at their Campus Center Hotel in an attempt to strong arm the town into signing a new Strategic Partnership that probably does not include reimbursement for the high education costs of their children.
So before Amherst taxpayers pass an Override for the schools they should require town officials get UMass to pay its fair share.
In addition the Select Board should show strong support for Representative Stephen Kulik's bill to require tax exempt institutions like Hampshire College (who pays the town nothing for AFD services) and Amherst College, who paid $130K this year, to pay 25% of their assessed value as a Payment In Lieu Of Taxes.
Vira did bring up that MSBA Major Repairs program last night. And Ron Bohonowitz responded last night that Fort River is not eligible for that program. Further that program is only for a single issue that a building might have. Like if the school needed new windows or a new roof. The program is not meant for a school with multiple issues like Fort River has. Additionally it would do nothing to mitigate the effects of open classrooms or bad air quality. Larry, if you are so quick to point out Vira's idea why did you not also point out Ron's response that clearly shows it's an ill-informed idea.
ReplyDeleteWell I think she also pointed out that suddenly the Wildwood and Fort River schools are a health hazard bordering on being condemned, but how the Hell did we allow them to get into such a state of disrepair?
ReplyDeleteYes MSBA probably only does single issue major repairs and Fort River has multiple issues, but if they had been addressed one at a time over the past 15 or 20 years ...
The issues at Fort River have been going on for years. There are many schools across the state vying for MSBA funds. Do you really think we could have chipped away at the over the years with funds from the MSBA year after year for two schools.
ReplyDeleteWe have been asking for money from the MSBA for a new school since 2007. We finally made it to the top of the list. It's not like we've been sitting around doing nothing all these years. It just takes time to make it to the top. If Amherst lets this opportunity go by our kids will be in these awful schools for another 15-20 years. Of course the good news is they will be able to walk to the decrepit schools. And the kids will be lucky in that they will be able to continue to use the awesome playgrounds these two schools have.
Speaking of walking to our neighborhood schools I am sure your readers are aware that RIGHT NOW kids are being bussed from the housing complexes on East Hadley Road in South Amherst to both Fort River and Wildwood. Special Ed kids are also bussed around town. The idea of a neighborhood school for all in Amherst is a myth.
The Amherst Select Board gave their approval for submitting a "Statement of Interest" to MSBA for Fort River renovations on March 23, 2015. A tad late wouldn't you say?
ReplyDeleteThe SC has been submitting a Statement of Interest to the MSBA for both schools every year since 2007 and the SB has been approving them every year. It really is not that easy to get money from the MSBA as people think.
DeleteI agree with Larry, how the hell did we allow Fort River to become such a health hazard. Aren't we going to need to do these repairs anyway.
ReplyDeleteWhy is the administration being deliberately misleading by saying we'll have to wait another 15-20 years for more MSBA funds? WW was chosen in 7 years and FR is in just as bad a state. 110 schools applied this year and 15 were selected. Doesn't that mean we could get more state funds in 7 years?
-DS
So Fort River should just wait their turn? They've already waited for many many years. That school has been sick since the 90s. Clearly you are not a Fort River parent or staff member.
DeleteNo, I am not a Fort River parent or teacher. I have one child in Wildwood and a 2 year old. If the Mega-School is built my 2 year old will have 1 year at the current Wildwood then switch and be bussed at the age of 6 to Crocker Farm and then at the age of 7, switch again and be bussed to the new Mega-School. Sounds wonderful for my little one!
DeleteWildwood is in the same condition as Fort River and I for one, and I have heard this from Fort River parents also, would rather keep what we have and repair what needs repairing than move to a Mega-School. Fort River can have the new school, that would be fine with me.
Anon @11:04 I am assuming you are a teacher at Fort River that is working with the administration or are Rick Hood in disguise.
-DS
I am Anon 1104 and I am neither of those. I am an interested parent.
DeleteAnd yet so many kids have gone to Fort River and Wildwood and come out alive and educated. What is going on?
ReplyDeleteOf course the architects will tell you that that it'll be 15-20 years before we get more state funds for Fort River. They'll also tell you renovation is impossible. They'll probably be reluctant to tell you that their fee for designing the Mega school will be 5 or 6 million$!
ReplyDelete-DS
At what point will the Town stop saying 'let's increase taxes' and start saying 'how can we be more efficient with our money? How do we cut costs responsibly?
ReplyDeleteThe owner of a $200,000 home should not be paying $5k in property tax.
They're not paying $5K, they are paying just over $4K, but that's dealing in the world of facts not B.S.
ReplyDeleteThis is so what this administration is famous for doing--proposing an idea--notifying the public last minute--and then claiming to have been meeting/discussing the issue for a year or more--and then doing what they damn well please. I wonder where the 10K consultants are lined up to begin their 'work' on this one? There is no 'lack' of money--the money is there--come on people just look down the road at UMass and aalll the spanking, brand new, buildings continuing to be built. Some say it's a different pot, but hell--last time I checked dollar bills all had the same pattern on them. How can this administration continue to expand and expand and expand--hell there is a new position in the front office every other week--if you look hard enough. Ft. River had a gym teacher who was nearly on her deathbed--have you forgotten that? Who is running this gambit anyway?
ReplyDeleteLarry, tax rate of the Town for 2014 is 20.97 per the Town website.
ReplyDeleteI was using 2015 rate (I'm on digital time.)
ReplyDeleteWhen someone writes "The History of Twentieth-Century Stupid Stuff in Amherst", above the refusal to stage "West Side Story" at ARHS has to be the decision to build elementary school buildings with those "open classrooms" for generations of teachers and children to contend with. Actually, in terms of the damage done, it's our schools' War in Iraq: the curse that kept on cursing.
ReplyDeleteNext time one of our local curmudgeons tries to talk back to the educational vanguard on behalf of the conventional wisdom (and we then scoff), let's try to recall just what we were all smoking when we decided as a community to invest in school buildings designed like these. Somehow, we thought that the degree of difficulty inherent in the crucial task of elementary school teaching was just not high enough. It's a cautionary tale about unintended consequences by well-intended people who thought they were doing the right thing.
Rich Morse
I like that title, although I think I'll stick to "Only In Amherst".
ReplyDeleteHi Rich, (nice to see your comment), some of us parents are wondering whether the decision to use "IMP" math will be shown by history to be a similar blunder, as well as the new policy to do away (mostly) with discipline in our district.
ReplyDeleteI'm still hoping that, over the years, ARHS alums who were students here in 1999 and adamantly outspoken about "West Side Story", have, as solitary adults, quietly put the movie version on their Netflix queues and watched it in the gorgeous wide-screen format, experiencing Leonard Bernstein's music, Stephen Sondheim's words, Jerome Robbins' choreography, performances by Rita Moreno, Natalie Wood, and others. Without all the blinding heat of being part of a "cause", they would then get the message about reconciliation and the senselessness of violence and prejudice, and have their own private, imperceptible, unspoken "oops" moment. But we'll never know.
ReplyDeleteRich Morse
Hear. Hear. Wouldn't it be funny if we came to our senses! WSS for 2016-17.
Delete"...proposing an idea--notifying the public last minute..."
ReplyDeleteFrom the Gazette, September 2014 (a year ago):
"Fort River Elementary School also was built around the same time as Wildwood with the same open-quad configuration. Though school officials would like to improve that building as well, the town had to give priority to one school for state consideration. [not accurate, applied for both schools]
However, the consolidation option that will be considered would address both buildings. That option would see elementary school children divided between two schools. Pre-kindergarten through Grade 1, students would go to the Crocker Farm School, which was renovated “substantially” in 2002, according to Mangano. A new school would then be built for students in Grades 2 through 6, replacing both Wildwood and Fort River schools.”
Rick, The administration has obviously not been deliberately deceptive, but the fact is that up until a week or 2 ago very few people knew or cared about the project (mainly due to the name "Wildwood building project") and many still do not know. Someone at the school committee mentioned robocalls for everything. Why not a robocall saying "wildwood and fort River school closing, for more information come to x or go to x"? Or do online polling or surveys? Particularly low income parents need to be involved/informed and polled.
DeleteMy fear is that without getting the town on board now, we might have trouble getting the votes at TM and the administration will only have itself to blame.
That damn Gazette.
ReplyDeleteYes, because no one looks more Puerto Rican than Natalie Wood.
ReplyDeleteIs that what's important? Moron. Natalie Wood's nationality??
DeleteWho the hell is Akira Kurosawa?
ReplyDeleteA very famous director.
DeleteActually if Town Meeting fails to inform itself, I put that squarely on the members of that august body. Seems they want to be spoon-fed.
ReplyDeleteAmherst Town Meeting is more like a January/February body.
ReplyDeleteGiven the high taxes in this town, the rapidly declining school population, and the deserting middle class, I wonder who is willing to give us the projections that show we need a mega school? I haven't seen the numbers justifying this huge expense.
ReplyDeleteMy kids went to Wildwood when it first opened. We called it the Wild Child School--discipline was totally out of control! And then The Fort River Clone was proposed and totally dissed. They built is anyway--in a swamp of all places. Hilda
It is kind of interesting that the "open classroom" design of Wildwood and Fort River is so widely panned these days yet the schools were built three years apart.
ReplyDeleteIf that design concept is such a downer (and isn't three years long enough to figure that out?) then why was Fort River built exactly the same way?
11:45 the administration was not deliberately deceptive, they just deliberately did not inform parents in any meaningful, detailed or timely way. They do not care what parents think and the later parents find out in the "process" -- usually a few weeks before they announce a decision they've made months or a year earlier. This is business as usual.
ReplyDelete