Chatham Resident: Too Many 'Why?'s on Question 2

This Letter to the Editor was submitted to Chatham Patch from Chatham resident, Lauren Migliozzi.

The more I hear and read about the BOE’s $25 million dollar referendum up for vote in the Chathams on April 21st, the more I question why voters should approve this plan. First, let me say I have no issues with Question 1, which calls for a 1.77% increase in the Operating Budget tax levy. I commend the Board for putting forth a reasonable budget that manages to maintain current educational quality without surpassing the 2% cap, and I will therefore support Question 1.

In all good conscience, however, I cannot vote yes on Question 2. While there are some projects proposed in Question 2 that I believe are deserving of taxpayer support, such as 6 new classrooms at Washington and Milton Avenue Schools, renovating the Chatham High School Auditorium and upgrading some of our athletic facilities, $14.2 million -- the lion’s share of the $25 million referendum -- is going to two related projects that leave me asking “Why?”

If the CMS oval is one of the only places left in the school district to build, why is the BOE proposing we use the space to build a PAC rather than reserve it for classroom space for future growth? According to the BOE “district enrollment has jumped another 27% in the past ten years”. Shouldn’t that precious space be reserved in the event we need a large number of new classrooms?

Why are we being asked to spend $14.2 million (between the PAC and CMS auditorium repurposing) to only gain 3 new classrooms -- classrooms that will not even have windows?

Why, if the district is in need of classroom space, should prime space in the repurposed CMS auditorium be taken up for district administrative offices rather than classrooms?

Why will we be hiding 2 stories of space in the current CMS auditorium under a 1 story dropped ceiling for administrative offices and just 3 new classrooms? Is that really an efficient use of space? I don’t think so.

Why do we even need a Performing Arts Center? Why can’t the current CMS auditorium be renovated just as they are proposing to renovate the CHS auditorium, especially since the CMS auditorium can receive the same renovations that are proposed for the CHS auditorium? Additionally, the new PAC will still not have enough seats to accommodate the entire student population of either CMS or CHS, so why not just renovate?

I believe in and support our schools. That is why is I am voting “Yes” on Question 1 to support the Operating Budget. The many “Whys” that Question 2 raises, however, compels me to vote “NO” on Question 2 and I strongly urge my fellow Chatham residents to do the same. A “NO” vote on Question 2 is not a vote to deny our kids new classrooms, updated auditoriums or athletic fields. It simply asks the BOE to go back and revise the referendum to ensure that we are spending scarce resources on capital projects we really need. A new referendum can be put before voters as early as September 2015. Why not take a step back and do this right, and develop a referendum that we can all feel good about supporting?

Lauren Migliozzi

For breaking news alerts and more from Patch, sign up for the daily newsletter by clicking on the links below.

Westfield* Clark-Garwood* Cranford* New Providence-Berkeley Heights * Scotch Plains-Fanwood* Springfield* Summit* Chatham* West Orange

More on Patch:

• Chatham Resident: ‘Don’t Vote Based on Misinformation’
• Chatham Borough Resident: Bond Referendum Constrains Funding of Educational Priorities for Years to Come
• Chatham Resident: Misinformed Voters Make Bad Decisions
• Chatham Resident: Proposing Framework For Three-Question Format For Upcoming Referendum
• Township Resident: Taxpayers Will Shoulder Cost of New School Theater for 20 Years
• Chatham Parent: Why I Support the Referendum and Board of Education