Schools

Third High School Out, Continued Discussions In

Board to study using Murphy Junior High School, Old Traughber to ease overcrowding.

After months of debate, board members voted 5-1 Monday night to terminate all planning and design for the construction of a third high school.

Board member Dave Behrens cast the lone vote in favor of building the school. Board member Mike Scaramuzzi was absent.

Officials said they plan to seek other alternatives to ease overcrowding in the district, such as conducting cost comparisons for utilizing Murphy Junior High School and the old Traughber Junior High School versus value engineering the proposed additions to the two existing high schools.

Initial cost estimates for the additons came in at about $80 million on the high end.

“We have to have people that live in Oswego that can afford to live in Oswego, and at this point I don’t think we can afford a third high school on what my taxes went up without it,” said board member Laurie Pasteris.

“I think we need to utilize the buildings we have first,” added board member Allison Swanson.

Residents spoke out on both sides of the issue before the vote was taken. Those opposeld to building a third high school cited increased taxes and buildings they said are underutilized in the district.

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“I would be all for a third high school if I really believed our community could afford it,” said resident Nancy Mattson. “I look at my neighborhood and I see so many people who are so close to being homeless.

"I definitely want what’s best for our children, but I believe a roof over their heads is just as important. We have to think about what’s going on in our economy today.”

Resident and former board member Leland Hoffer said times have changed “drastically” since the $450 million referendum was approved in 2006.

“Foreclosures far exceed building permits right now,” he said. “The election in April gave a mandate to the three new board members who said no to a new high school. The incumbents finished sixth and seventh in that particular race.

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"The voters have spoken. I think you have a mandate to do what the voters want regardless of fact that there are some that would have it otherwise.”

Resident Russell Pietrowiak took issue with Hoffer's suggestion that the board has a mandate.

"Nobody has a mandate. What I would encourage you to do is have a better dialog with the community," he said. "I encourage you to develop a way to have more forums or exchanges of ideas."

Resident Cheryl Carbone said while no one wants their taxes to go up, “doing nothing is not an option either.”

“The reality is when you live in a growing community taxes are going to go up,” she said. “I can’t think of any better investment than in our children. And for those people concerned about taxes going up and they don’t have skin in the game so to speak, I say to you with all due respect, someone foot the bill for your kid’s education. It’s time to return the favor.”

If the board wants to move ahead with additions, a decision would need to be made by the first board meeting in September, according to Assistant Supt. for Business and Finance Tim Neubauer.

If bonds are to be sold for the construction, the district will need to begin the process in September. The district still has the authority to sell about $246 million more in bonds for construction, but that runs out Nov. 6. The bonds must be sold by that date to obtain the funds, Neubauer said.

The district still holds about $10 million from $32 million in bonds sold in December.


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