For all who wish to see the election results for the May 20 bond a link is provided in the top right corner of this web page under the title Whatcom County Election Information.
As of May 20, 2008 8:24 PM the Whatcom County Auditor shows: 50.2% approved bond and 49.8% rejected the bond. The bond needs 60% to pass.
It looks unlikely that the bond will pass. We anticipate this trend to continue and will post new information about what our next steps will be shortly.
We thank all who visited the website and expressed their opinion and extend that invitation further. We also greatly thank those working on the ground to educate the public and ultimately defeat the bond. We look forward to working with you all in the coming months.
This is not the end but rather a good start in the beginning. The road to change is both difficult and long but like all things difficult and long the rewards will be plentiful and what we will earn from our efforts will be, quite literally, what we deserve. Good fortune is only as useful as we make it, with your help we have started the road of change and only with you can we get to what change we desire, and we will get there my friends.
Thank you all, keep up the good work
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10 comments:
Now that the bond looks to fail, the students of N.B and Custer are going to look to you to fix the inadequacies of their buildings for the upcoming school year. How do you propose to do this? If you are unsure of the actual inadequacies, just come drop by one of the schools for a visit and I guarantee you will be at a loss for words. I ahve visited both schools and am appalled at the state of the buildings. This bond was the cheapest and easiest way to ensure that those students would get a building that was a safe and positive learning environment. Thanks for the help...
Anonymous:
It is just a reminder that if bond would pass FSD planned to demolish Custer Elementary School, and start construction this summer or fall. Construction would take year or two. During that year or two students from Custer would be bused to newly completed (coming September) Cascadia Elementary School.
Similar scenario would apply to part of North Bellingham with additional usage of existing portables on the N.B. campus.
Failing of this bond doesn’t have to affect that plan. It buys a time for the community to work on finding realistic, long term solutions to those relatively standard problems.
Best, long term solutions could affect generations to come, not just immediate students of this or next year.
FSD still enjoys a huge budget, hundreds of employees on salaries, and obligations to its pupils.
Taxpayer has rights to expect some results from own continues support showed to FSD and performance from beneficiaries of that support.
Long term solutions are plenty, and will clearly surface in the very near future.
Thanks for your comments and participation,
Art
I wrote earlier (May 7) about the costs of special elections; and who bears those. In the mail we received a pro-tax increase piece that was sent by a seemingly private group (judging by their name). I guess it wasn't private.
We've had 2 elections now at a cost of $34,000 for at least one and probably double for both; we cannot get an answer of the cost from the people spending the money ("call our attorney") according to another post; and I believe we'll see this election again (and again) very soon - want to bet? Opponents of the bond have no public budget funds to oppose.
Where are these costs in the "tight" existing budget for these elections, who is getting the money and how much can be spent? These costs are small in comparison to $21M but this is an important question that relates to how money is raised and spent.
Ferndale Resident
Funny how you comment on Ferndale's large budget...are you aware that 20+ teachers have been told they no longer have a job next year? That's the district's way of cutting money. I can't help but believe that some of those teachers would have their job next year if the bond passed. The district wouldn't have to pay the extremely high price of having as many portables at the schools. But I guess that doesn't matter...who really cares about class size...only the teachers? Next year classes will probably be verging on 30 at the elementary level. That's rediculous. What needs to happen is state reform, not just district. Perhaps if we got rid of the WASL the state could spend those millions of dollars on teachers.
To "anonymous":
You stike at one of our fundamental concerns with the FSD. With such a large budget they should not have to lay off teachers, but they have. They have focused their priorities on developing school buildings rather than developing education.
The purpose of the bond was to demolish 2 buildings and replace them, Not to keep teachers. According to the district, the bond had nothing to do with the teachers loosing their jobs.
Portables are a failing facilities plan and the bond would not affect this.
We agree with you that 30 students per teacher is a high ratio and are outraged that the FSD leadership would allow education to deteriorate to that level.
To be clear this bond would not have any positive effect on class sizes. This was a construction request, no a request to hire or even retain teachers.
We agree with you that state reform is needed but reform must start in our own back yard before we help the entire neighbourhood.
Teachers should not be the first cuts when times get hard because it is sutdents who suffer when teachers get cut. The leadership at FSD has neglected its duty to education by cutting the essencial part of the students education.
This shows where the FSD priorities lay, and we disagree with this policy.
thank you for your comment
I do believe change is desperately needed in the FSD Adminstration. I would like to see them cut people at the administration building since apparently they don't have enough to do as it is.
However, I also think that the bond failing has a huge impact on why teachers are cut. Portables are very expensive and they wouldn't have to have them if they could have rebuilt. I can think of 11 portables at 3 schools, off the top of my head. That is money that could be going into salaries or buildings but now that's not an option. Now we have two buildings that won't get touched because there's no money to do so. As I have said before, once you begin fixing one thing, you have have to fix everything in that area and that's the whole school. Not worth it!
Custer is in really bad shape. When it was built they never secured the roof of the gym to the walls or the brick to the front of the building. One thing is for certain...I hope I'm not in that building when an earthquake hits. It won't be pretty.
As far as your response to state reform vs. district reform. Everything in education (as most places) is top down. People need to take a stand and vote new people into office (state and district). Not vote against the safety and education of our children.
We don’t have to look very far to see examples of improving safety of schools in realistic, economical fashion. Over this coming summer Bellingham School District is going to seismically improve two of its old elementary schools: Columbia and Larrabee Elementary (both probably around 70 years’ old buildings) will get structural improvements. Budget for those projects ranges between $1 million to $1, 5 million for both buildings, and improvements will be completed during summer break.
Experienced, professional structural engineering firm from Everett (not architectural consulting firm) has been hired by Bellingham School District to provide structural solutions to substandard old buildings.
This summer, just like every other summer dozens of similar aged school buildings will receive seismic upgrades in other districts in our State and beyond.
With good planning there is no need to use portables, ask taxpayer for mega millions and have safe schools for students and staff in the coming school year.
There are clearly reasonable solutions out there Ferndale taxpayer would support, but FSD doesn’t see them, or is not interested in exploring them.
To correct this long lasting, and growing deficiency in the leadership of FSD we are suggesting dramatic change.
We are open to all suggestion, and please feel free to use this forum to discuss your position.
In our opinion Ferndale students, school staff and taxpayer deserves better from our district leaders.
There will be a walkout at ferndale high school on june 4th. The leaders of this walkout are attempting to spread the information to as many schools as possible across the state so they can participate as well. The walkout has been created by students to draw attention of the legislature, community, and media. The plan is to walkout of class at noon on june 4th and go to a local gov building( to be determined but ie: city hall, county council, or school board) There students will gather to write letters to the legislature to increase funding to all districts state wide. The letters from all schools involved will be brought to Olympia by student representatives (2+ from each school) we hope this will make a difference. we, as students, know that the community should not have to pay every penny for our education, the state should pay for it, meaning the legislature needs to increase funding which is exactly what this walkout is intended to make happen. We are asking for community support and help with this. Any community members are welcome to come to our planning meeting at Haggen on Monday (memorial day) at 5pm. There we will be planning the details and spreading the word. There is a video on youtube describing our cause, reasons, and intentions (the link will be at the bottom of the blog) We hope the community will support us. Obviously swift and drastic action is necessary to get the attention of the media and legislaure. Please help the students of FHS and all other schools state wide get more funding from the state.
Thank you.
-FHS WALKOUT TEAM
youtube video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=v8MKrMIEaQs
I saw the youtube video and am impressed with your dedication to the teachers of the FSD. See you on Monday.
Norbert Rojsza
While I think Change Ferndale is a bit misguided and idealistic, I am more distressed by the apathy of the Ferndale citizens. One can argue that the lack of a vote is the same as a vote against the bond but it would have been meaningful to have more votes cast on such an important issue. Now we are stuck with 2 schools that should be replaced and no funds to even make necessary repairs. We are faced with spending millions of dollars on portables for the immediate future. Shame on those who chose not to vote. How much easier can we make voting than to send the ballot to our homes? This is a sad day for Ferndale students and future students.
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