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Kate Daniello and Bob Forcellina Jr. are the co-founders of We the People of Fairfield, a taxpayer advocacy group. The submitted this editorial in response to ongoing budget talks among the Board of Education, the Board of Finance and the Board of Selectmen.
We the People has issues with the town budgets capital improvements and major maintenance costs on newly built schools totaling $587,500.
Burr, McKinley and Roger Ludlow Middle School are 8 years young, yet Burr needs $35,000 to fix problems with the HVAC system, McKinley needs $ 100,000 in coping repairs to the roof, RLMS needs $ 250,000 to replace cedar siding because the cost to maintain it is too expensive and an additional $50,000 for roof repairs. We the People does not deny the need for these expenses (except in the case of RLMS new siding), but we feel strongly that not enough has been done to recoup a minimum of 50 percent of these costs that are due to faulty design recommendations made by builders/architects. For example, the glass exterior at Burr that causes problems with the HVAC system and the recommendation of cedar siding to give the RLMS building a warmer look without considering the ongoing maintenance cost. These costs are not insignificant, and as taxpayers weve spent mega-millions to build these schools.
Other noteworthy major maintenance costs in these newer schools are: At Burr: $30,000 soundproofing panes in gym and $25,000 for exterior rain-splash drains for courtyard doors. (Werent these considered in the buildings original design?) Then at McKinley there is $ 40,000 for a new kitchen dehumidification system. Finally, at Roger Ludlow Middle School, $35,000 is needed to repair an expansion joint, $15,000 install a double door in stairwell and $7,500 to install a new air filtering system for the art room. With respect to the We the People suggestion that the town go back to these contractors/architects, many of our supporters in the trade say that these issues are why they carry insurance.
Suggestions that We the People is making to the Board of Education as part of our goal to keep Fairfield affordable for all who live here are: Superintendent David Title should consider dissolving the house system at our two high schools. We the People believes that the savings of $1.6 million could be incorporated into this years budget and that the details, as far as implementation, could be worked out over the summer. We the People realizes that Fairfields house system has been in place for many years, and we understand that in the past such a system made our large high school seem smaller to its 2,800 students. Now, however, Fairfield has the luxury of two high schools each with about 1,400 students. The town of Greenwich uses the house system administering to its 3,000 students in one building. The savings to the budget derived from reducing staff once the house system is eliminated cannot be ignored. Title has responded that unemployment costs were not considered in the $1.6 million amount and that he does not want to jump into this decision. We the People feel strongly that implementing this recommendation, made by the independent operational audit team of Prismatic Systems Inc., would save taxpayer money in this years budget and in the future.
The school system hires people to run and supervise the summer school program. We the People does not understand why the school principals, who are employed for 12 months, including the summer, are not fulfilling this role. Title has told us that the summer school program is self funding. This means that it is not costing the town any money. We the People still feel strongly that the onsite salaried principals should be supervising this program and that any revenue resulting from this change should be used to pay down building operating costs such as utilities, janitorial services, etc.
Title should survey teachers, again, to ask for ways to eliminate waste and streamline operations. The survey of the teachers, done by Prismatic Systems, netted only a 35 percent response rate. We the People has learned from our teacher supporters that they felt uncomfortable making suggestions under the former administration. We the People is asking Title to send out the same survey asking that ALL the teachers in the system reply.
If you are interested in becoming a supporter of WTP and receiving these weekly opinion pieces, please contact Kate at 203-255-3960 or Bob at 203-256-5936. Or send an email to wtpfairfield@gmail.com.
You have an opportunity to speak your mind at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 19, at the Senior Center on Mona Terrace in Fairfield when the Board of Finance solicits public comments on the towns budget. We the People is urging all taxpayers to attend.
Kate Daniello & Bob Forcellina
Co-founders of We the People of Fairfield
Would you like to voice your opinion? Start by posting in the comments below, or submit letters to the editor to gcanuel@mainstreetconnect.us.
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