It’s been nearly a year since I joined the NCSD school board. Anyone who knows me will attest to the fact I’ve worked diligently in that time trying to educate myself on the needs of the district. I have come to believe a long term vision is needed to ensure our community can have confidence in the direction our schools are headed, included in this is a plan for our districts’ facilities.
A recent editorial stated there is no strategic long term plan within the district. While I can’t speak to what was in place more than a year ago, I can tell you part of my first year was dedicated to ensuring there is a plan to address the future needs of our district. The current plan identifies investments needed in HVAC, roofs, technology and athletic facilities all of which have a finite lifespan and replacement is inevitable. While it is impossible to know exactly what will be needed eight to 10 years from now, we can predict likely expenses during that time, create a budget and plan other expenses accordingly.
Here are some of additional relevant details: Aurora Heights, Thomas Jefferson, Emerson Hough and the high school have all had significant investments made in the past 15 to 20 years. They are unlikely to need the investment in the next 20 years the Berg complex is in need of currently. Even so, the districts’ 10-year plan has investments planned for each of these facilities as well as Woodrow Wilson. The current long-term plan calls for SAVE funds, the statewide penny tax, to be used for these investments. These funds are meant to be used for this purpose and help ease the tax burden on local property owners. NCSD receives approximately $2.5 million each year from this funding source and has plans to use approximately two-thirds of the total in the next 10 years to keep our current buildings up to date and technology in the hands of our teachers and students. A no vote on Sept. 13 would likely scrap the districts’ 10-year plan, limit investments in technology and create another situation like the one we are in currently.
To learn more about this and the needs of the Berg complex feel free to stop by one of the remaining open houses at Berg and learn why so many others are supportive of this plan. The next open houses are from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday and 1:30 to 3 p.m. Sept. 11.
Josh Cantu
Newton