by nikidog » Wed Nov 09, 2011 7:17 pm
Wow. While I think it is good that the district plans to do basic building maintenance like replacing a gym floor, it appears as though sports, particulalry at the high school level are the priority. At the high school alone, they want to spend $100,000 to "Add pavillion at softball pinwheel", $220,000 to "Construct 135 stall parking lot and drive at softball fields", $900,000 to "Construct synthetic turf stadium football/soccer field", $15,000 to "Provide portable pitchers mounds at softball fields", $750,000 to "Construct new Varsity BB field with grandstand west of stadium-- existing goes to JV", $50,000 to "Provide multi-use/portable bleachers", and $60,000 to "Enlarge the existing press box for more appropriate use and access." So far, that's $2,095,000. And that doesn't include ALL of the listed items budgeted to high school sports.
The middle school level has also reserved significant funds for sports. The district wants to spend $150,000 to "Construct a 60 stall paved parking lot and drive at fields" and $20,000 to "Provide paved trail connection at fields." Again, even at $170,000, these are not the only budgeted sports items at the middle school level.
From the items listed, the school will spend $2,265,000 just on sports. Assuming that my math is correct, that about 8% of the total $27,605, 625 on the referendum proposal.
What I don't see, however, is any funding for teachers and other non-administrative staff or funding for any curriculum enhancements like textbooks, computer technology, media center resources, science labs, language labs, etc. , Other than overall maintenance and restoration on the school buildings and some funding for auditorium upgrades and the music program, there is not much that directly benefits the academic opportunities for the students of the district.
If Rockford Schools want to attract students, rather than lose them, as seems to be the long-standing trend, then they need to invest in their teachers and curriculum, not in elite sports complexes. I, for one, would not send my child, if I had one, to a school district that invests more in sports than it does in their students' education.