Greg Forsyth
Newton
I attended the Newton school board meeting last week with the hopes of learning more about the proposed building realignment and how it affects our district’s current budget. I was encouraged to hear specific questions raised by two board members and one teacher (in open forum) about the lack of a detailed plan and time line. Although few details were provided, the board again voted 5-2 to adopt a plan to move forward with reconfiguration for the 2016-2017 school year.
In a time when our district is considering staff reductions and elimination of advanced programs to balance our current “budget crisis,” it makes no sense to me that we would move forward with the opening of additional buildings. I desperately want to understand how our district can justify this reconfiguration, while enrollment in our district does not support it.
To be clear, when the time is right, I will support a public bond to build a new Berg complex. That being said, there has to be trust and consensus within our community that it is the right thing to do. Unfortunately, I do not see this board being able to lead us to this type of consensus.