Vote April 5, 2011 for Tony Bennett (2nd on Ballot), Rich Conley (3rd on Ballot) and Mark Lund (6th on Ballot) for Warren Township High School Board of Education.
Watch our new YouTube video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5GnIvnFyxc
|
Bennett, Conley, and Lund on the upcoming teacher’s contract:
The current majority on the Warren Township High School board are detached from economic reality in previously approving a contract which provides salary increases of up to 6%. At a time when people in the community are receiving pay cuts or losing their jobs, pay for public employees should reflect the experience of private sector employees. Since the major expense for the Warren High School District is public employee salaries and benefits, the Board cannot address school spending until it addresses excessive employee pay and benefits. Taxpayers simply cannot afford the salaries and benefits that the current majority has allowed for employees. Bennett, Conley, and Lund pledge to only support a reasonable contract that is based on economic reality, which is the only way to protect the taxpayers.
|
|
|
Bennett, Conley, and Lund on the misuse of subsidies for the high interest rates on the $24 million Build America Bonds:
In supporting the referendum, the taxpayers trusted the majority on the board to get the best possible interest rate in issuing the bonds. The Build America Bonds are issued at a higher interest rate than conventional bonds in order to make them more attractive to investors in a tight credit market. However, the Federal Government developed the rebate program to subsidize the higher interest rate, and effectively bring down the finance costs to the district back into line with conventional bonds. The subsidy is supposed to be used to pay down the interest, not fund pet projects of the majority of the board. The Board, only recently and very reluctantly, after intense political pressure from residents and the Daily Herald Newspaper, agreed to use the subsidies as required. Bennett, Conley and Lund intend to make sure the rebates continue to be applied to the loan payments, reduce the interest costs, and save taxpayers money.
Bennett, Conley, and Lund on building new school campuses and splitting the current Almond and O’Plaine campuses into two schools:
The current campuses should be configured as they currently exist. Bennett, Conley, and Lund oppose splitting the schools, and oppose building additional campuses. Warren Township High School has enough capacity to house students for the foreseeable future with the current facilities. At the present time, Warren can house 4,800 students, but has reached a high point of student enrollment of only 4,300 students. Based on current K-8 enrollment in our feeder schools, the student enrollment will drop to about 4,100 students. Bennett, Conley, and Lund will stop the unnecessary construction of additional buildings to serve a shrinking student population.
Bennett, Conley, and Lund on the recent purchase of property located on Stearns School Road:
The purchase of the Stearns School Road property was a mistake and a waste of taxpayer money. Bennett, Conley, and Lund will do everything possible to sell the property at a time that property values improve enough to recoup taxpayer money used to make the purchase, and devote those resources to programs educating kids, holding the line on taxes, and paying down the debt. The purchase made more sense with the involvement of Warren Township government (a separate government body), which obtained a $750,000.00 grant that could have used to significantly offset the purchase price. Further, Warren Township government has both the financial ability and the technical skills necessary to develop the athletic fields on the property, and has the staffing to maintain the property and administer programs using the property. Because of the action of the majority on the High School Board, Warren lost the $750,000.00 grant, and lost the cooperation of the Township in developing the property. Government cooperation is essential to provide services to the taxpayer at the lowest possible cost, and the High School Board made a huge mistake in proceeding with this purchase without obtaining the cooperation of the Township government.
Bennett, Conley, and Lund on Governmental Cooperation:
Warren Township High School obviously need to cooperate more with other governmental entities. However, the current majority on the School Board has done the opposite, especially with the purchase of the Stearn School property. We lost a $750,000 grant due to the unwillingness of the current majority to work with Warren Township government. We need to put aside personal differences and act in the best interest of the taxpayers. A further area of cooperation is in purchase of supplies from vendors. It would benefit Warren to combine orders with other taxing bodies for various supplies for the school, and try to realize savings in buying in greater bulk, giving us greater savings.
|
|
Please vote on April 5, 2011. Trust that the team of Bennett, Conley and Lund will fight for the students and taxpayers of this communiity, and not the teachers union. We will hold the line on spending and your taxes while providing a quality educaton, it can be done.
|
|
|
|
HOME