As the School Board Directors stated, now is the time to step back, review, and reduce or delete some of our desires. (Comments from Dan Remely and Dale Ostergaard from Part 2 of 4.25.11 meeting) How big will that second bond be? The world has drastically changed since 2008. What are we really able to afford? Energy savings or a Leed Certificate?
John Taormina, construction manager from P.J. Dick, was asked to compare the Upper St. Clair renovation cost differential to our project. He said that it would be comparing apples to oranges. We offer programs that are not offered at USC. For instance, we have two theaters, they don't. We have several gymnasiums which USC does not have. We offer dance class. USC does not. As a member of the CAC whispered to me last night, maybe that is why USC is always number one in education.
It was mentioned that our project was allowed to grow from a bush into a tree and now we have to cut off limbs. Do you think it had anything to do with the special interest groups exclaiming that we can get so much more for only $18 a month more? The VOICE website is on the SOS signs and clearly promotes this way of thinking, to this day. Last night, the Commission passed the sign ordinance revision for the SOS signs, in the name of freedom of speech. This group mislead the School Board. They mislead the community. They were also silent at last night's meeting.
For a moment in time last night, the entire community agreed that the project needs to be scaled back.
What was glaringly missing from last night's meeting were the mea culpas!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure we'll be able to move forward until several leaders and groups can deal with the fact that they got it wrong or aren't quite as smart as they thought they were.
Dick Saunders
Make sure Part 2 is preserved for posterity !
ReplyDeleteOne of the more revealing things out of a multitude,to me at least, was the disclosure of 75 cost reduction possibility items developed in just 5 days post-bid; yet, we had been told by the District prior to bid invitations that that the entire project had been thoroughly value engineered by the professionals and the cost estimates were realistic ! Anyone see anything wrong or questionable about this ?
The SB has never questioned or challenged the opinions of the professionals, including staff. One of the reasons being they always delivered exactly what the SB wanted to hear.
Bill Lewis
Unfortunately, the school board never read the Master Design Team meeting minutes according to past president Ed Kubit. After admitting the minutes had not been read he turned to Dr. Steinhauer and asked, "Did you put the Master Design Team meeting minutes into the packet?" Dr. Steinhauer said, "No."
ReplyDeleteIf the Board did not read the Master Design Team meeting minutes is it really a surprise that 75 cost reductions appeared 5 days after the bids were received? The Board Members have only themselves to blame.
John Ewing
Ellen, I have to say I disagree about the SOS signs. They might annoy me. The people doing it might be doing it in an "in your face" move but the signs are protected under the First Amendment.
ReplyDeleteWhen we go down that slippery slope of limiting speech, it never ends well.
Yes Jack, I realize that. I just wish that they are as vigilant about the website they are promoting. It hasn't been updated since February. They are the ones who keep telling the people that it is only $18 a month and you get it all. As we found out last night, it just isn't true.
ReplyDeleteElaine
Elaine, it is fun to bring up that "$18/month (or less) though." You have to admit it.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to attending the candidate forum in May 4th.
Although I was not able to attend the meeting of 25 April I did listen to the Podcast of it. But having heard it I'm not sure that the Board is as willing to compromise as they let on. In a message to parents released yesterday afternoon, Dr. Steinhauer said, in part, “I want you to know that we are committed to building a high school that meets our programmatic needs within the scope previously approved by the School Board. We are working diligently with our architect and construction manager to accomplish that goal.” What does this mean?
ReplyDeleteI understand that there is tremendous pressure from various special interest groups to move this project forward as is, but as I wrote to the board on Monday, in part, “..allow me to point out that contractors are generally not stupid. They, as business people, know what is happening in this country; the value of money is constantly going down, artificially driving prices up. In order to make a reasonable profit (with which to pay people and taxes) a business person MUST build inflation into his (or her) bid. You have been caught by this economic reality. Money is becoming cheapened by our national debt, unfunded liabilities, and credit derivatives.” Does the board expect to “jawbone” the contractors' prices down or the value of money up?
When I mentioned to the Board that it seemed to me that their choices were 1)present the project to the voters as is, if they really feel the cost would justify the results and they have the support of the community, or 2)scale back the project to something that reflects the economic realities we are all facing, Ms. Posti replied for the Board, saying, in part, “In regards to a community-wide referendum, that exercise will not solve issues related to how the project is bid and our current referendum debt limit is actually $131 MM, a number the Board finds just as unacceptable as the low bid received last week.” OK, fair enough. Although I never put any dollar figures in my letter to the Board I find it quite interesting that I got one back from Ms. Posti. I was, however, under the impression that the figure that would trigger a referendum was around $115 million (to be fair to Ms. Posti the phrase “referendum debt limit” may be referring to something other than the amount that triggers a referendum).
I have no problem admitting to anyone that I can't follow the Board's reasoning or collective mind-set. But as to being sorry or apologetic over this whole mess the Board reminds me of the thief who isn't a bit sorry he was caught stealing, but is very, very sorry he's going to jail.
Richard Gideon
Richard,
ReplyDeleteAsk Ms. Posti to divulge the source(s), factors and calculations used that proves "our current referendum debt limit is actually $131 MM"....don't think she is correct; but, *show us the money* !
Bill Lewis