Saturday, February 19, 2011
Right here, right now
I got an email from Borders Books this morning, that the sale starts today. Everything must go. No, this is not an advertisement for Borders Books. This is just another indicator that our region is in trouble. Borders filed for Chapter 11 bankrupcy reorganization on Wednsday. I was hoping our School Board would have scaled back the high school renovation project. Money is drying up. When the bids come in, will we get the project we were promised at the cost listed on this campaign postcard? Vote for Dale, Alan & Dan They were right. The November 3rd Election certainly did affect our tax dollars!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
While I agree that the high school project needs to be kept under control, I don't think that it's reasonable to claim that Borders Books bankruptcy and store closings have anything to do with the economic health of the region.
Borders has been struggling nationally for years. Their online sales can't compete with Amazon, and their retail stores don't have the volume to keep them afloat.
Locally, Barnes & Noble built their new store near South Hills Village not that long ago, and from there, Borders just went further down the spiral. B&N also just moved their store from the Point at South Fayette to the new Settler's Ridge complex. Clearly there is a market for bookstores in the area; Borders is failing do to their own mismanagment more than anything else.
In Washington the House of Representatives passed a bill covering every Cabinet agency through Sept. 30, when the current budget year ends. It imposes severe spending cuts on domestic programs and foreign aid. Targets include SCHOOLS, nutrition programs, environmental protection, and heating and housing subsidies for the poor.
Looks like the school district will be possibly losing federal money and evidence suggest the state could be cutting next.
Rather than building reserves or conserving the school district continues to operate like they have unlimited money trees planted somewhere.
They're going to PAY yet another party to scrutinize the high school project. Doesn't reflect a lot of confidence in our administrators, solicitors, architect or CM does it.
Two more things I wonder about.
What happen to Ostergaard's 5% cost saving committees... hasn't been a word on that front lately. And exactly WHEN do they plan to START saving 5% anywhere in the school district budget.
That big survey to see how the community thinks the district is doing, shouldn't the results be in by now?
Giffen Good
Jeaton you're right, Borders has been struggling for years for many reasons, e-readers, the internet, over expansion, etc.
Unfortunately, because the school district can always go to the taxpayer well for cash, they believed they are immune to the same problems as any other business concern.
Those short-sighted beliefs are beginning to show as new school districts prosper and excel academically such as those we see in the North Hills and compete with MTL for families.
The same mismanagement that drove Borders to bankruptcy can be seen in the underfunded teacher pension mess. Except that taxpayers provide the lifesaver that Borders and its unfortunate employees don't enjoy.
Giffen Good
jeaton-
Oops, I published your comment thinking your name linked to a Google account. Thanks for the comment, but next time, please sign your first and last name to the comment.
Elaine Gillen
As I remember the last Community Survey the satisfaction ratings in descending order were:
Curriculum
Teachers
Technology
Facilities
Budget
Administration/Superintendent/School Board
Facilities ranked above the
Budget and
District Leadership.
Post a Comment