The following was submitted to the local papers. I'd like to hear how others feel about this matter.
To the Editor - Now is not the time
During last week's meeting of the Alliance of Derry Taxpayers, the subject of the school budget was discussed in detail, specifically the impact it will have on Derry taxpayers. In addition to the looming state budget cuts that may result in a $7.5 million cut in funding from the state, we are also faced with the increased cost of pensions and insurance. As if these issues are not enough to make citizens worry about how our town and school budgets will be impacted, Pinkerton Academy announced plans to begin construction on the Freshmen Academy next year, at an estimated cost of $20 to $25 million. It seems we have a perfect storm brewing in Derry and unfortunately it is the tax payers who will be hit the hardest.
The ADT understands that the trustees at Pinkerton think they are doing the right thing for their incoming freshmen, but now is not the time. With the current economic challenges faced by us all as individuals, we do not need the additional burden of funding this as tax payers. Even with the decrease in bonding and construction costs, this additional burden could not come at a worse time.
We also understand the need to get rid of the portable classrooms, but recent studies have shown that enrollment in grades 1-8 has been on the decline for the last 5 to 8 years. Surely there are more cost effective ways to increase classroom space on a more appropriate scale.
As to the other challenges we face, we have met with members of the school board to find ways that the ADT can help with the budget issues we face in Concord. There is still time to try and affect change in the state aid formula being used and we agree that we must all work together. However we do not have the ability to directly offer input on the decisions being made at Pinkerton.
In that regard, the ADT would like to respectfully ask the Pinkerton Board of Trustees to reconsider their decision and think of the challenges being faced by the communities that send their students. We would also ask the tax payers in Derry, Chester and Hampstead to let their thoughts be known and contact Pinkerton directly. We will all be impacted by this decision.
Stephanie Hooton
Derry, NH
President - Alliance of Derry Taxpayers
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While I understand the need to get rid of the 20 portable classrooms at Pinkerton, do we really need to spend $25 million building 36 classrooms? I think 25 classrooms could be built at a much lower price. If you go to the architects web page @
ReplyDeletehttp://www.marinacearchitects.com/pafb.html
you can see for yourself the extravagant building Pinkerton wants to build. Please go to the web site and look, there is just too much to write here. For examples: A state-of-the art culinary arts program with teaching kitchen and restaurant that will serve the public. Do we really need to do this now? I thought schools were keeping the general public out of the schools for safety reasons and now they want to invite them in. And all classrooms in the new building are to be equipped with Interwrite smart boards and ceiling mounted data projectors, controlled from built-in lecterns, each with a computer and document camera. It must be nice to not have to worry about costs when others are forced to pay.
I also question the need for this whole "Freshman Academy" idea. Why do they feel the need to coddle the freshman and keep them separated from the other classes for 4 periods of the day? The rest of the day they will be mixed in with the rest of the classes. If the freshman need to be kept separated from the upper classmen, why don't we just keep them at the middle schools another year. This could be done a lot cheaper than $25 million. I wish the Pinkerton Trustees would see how this is going to affect us. Please wait or scale down the project.
These comments are my own. Thank you
Steph, I thought your article was right on point. Given the state of the economy, and the fact that we are scheduled to lose 7.5 million dollars in state education aid, constructing this building now is likely to push our tax rate over $30.00. How much more can we take? If pinkerton really wants this building, they should try running a campaign to raise the money. It's not often that I agree with Brenda Willis, but she was absolutely right in telling the Pinkerton Trustees that Derry can't afford this.
ReplyDeleteKevin Coyle
pinkerton academy class of 83
Congrats to Stephanie for her excellent letter in the DERRY NEWS AND the NUTFIELD NEWS.
ReplyDeleteStephanie is right on that our main objective to contdrolling real estate taxes in Derry now rests largely with the schools. That is where the largest increases will come at us in the next few years. Especially where teacher contracts are up for re-negotiation. We have the opportunity to ask them to share in the responsibility for these increased expenses.
We also need to lobby the State so that we do not get a 7.5 million dollar decrease in State funding. We also need to look at the increases in pension and benefits from the State. The State is a lot of the problem, and we need to bring them into discussions. Their present stragegy of balancing the State budget on the backs of homeowners is unacceptable. The State also has not done a good job of controlling run away pension and benefit costs. I do not imply that they have done nothing. I am saying they have not done nearly enough.
If we read Brian Chirichiello's comments in today's NUTFIELD NEWS, he gives a good analysis of the fact that most increases in real estate taxes are coming from the schools in 2010 and 2011. However, further town cuts should be seriously investigated and implemented as should reductions in the lavish salary and benefits contracts given away to the town unions. However, the biggest costs in the next few years will come from the schools.
We need to focus on the schools now and not just let them bill us whatever they want like they have done in the past.
We should probably also look at what Pinkerton is charging us for tuition in respect to building our own High School to see if that makes economic sense. It may turn out that our own high school might be less expensive as we would have some control over the costs, and we would not have to support Pinkerton's expensive appetite for luxury and prestige.