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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (April 27, 2016)
10 Wednesday, April 27, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon LETTERS Continued from page 9 Curtiss Scholl and the Sisters School Board, and their strong desire to move forward with transparency and fiscal responsibility, keep- ing the students’ best interests at the fore- front of their efforts. Their plan for a Citizens Oversight Committee of capital projects ensures accountability. Please join us in voting yes on Measure 9-108. For more information, please visit www.ourschoolsourcommunity.org. Amber & Shad Sitz • • • To the Editor: I have questions about the very large assessment that the bond issue, if passed, would entail. First: why not go after the roofer for the repair/replacement cost of the high school roof since it is within the warranty period? Second, why build new tennis courts instead of fixing the old ones? Third, why build a new baseball field instead of refurbishing the old one? Fourth, the refinancing would free up money for “staff salaries.” This does NOT mean teacher salaries. The administrative staff could get raises and no new teachers might be hired. I am retired on a fixed income and this mea- sure would cost me approximately $328 per year, rising as assessments rise. Many folks in Sisters are in the same boat. The school board needs to think about this. Karen Sweigert • • • To the Editor: As a business owner in Sisters, I under- stand the importance of a high-quality school district. Aimee and I don’t have any children, but we certainly appreciate what the schools do for our community. While I do not like paying higher property taxes for both my residence and the business, I have done the math for how much the bond will raise our taxes, and I feel that it is a mer- ited investment. I am a “Yes” vote. Tate Metcalf • • • To the Editor: The passing of Bond Measure 9-108 is essential. Without a solution, the crisis will only get worse. The State of Oregon woefully underfunds it schools. When it comes to confronting the serious problems in the Oregon education system, stalling is what those in charge do best, i.e. the legislature. The state legislature provides NO annual funds for capital improvements to its schools. Some rural schools sites have been con- demned and had to close for lack of funds for necessary upkeep, replacement, and repairs. It is up to the hard-working volunteers in this community to assess and prioritize the schools needs and then design a bond mea- sure which will address those needs. This has been done thoughtfully with attention to fiscal responsibility and accountability. Details of how the money will be spent are available for all to see on their website: ourschoolsourcommunity.org. This is our community and these are our schools. To paraphrase what a Bend city official once said: Sisters is an “intentional commu- nity.” People choose to come here to live. One reason is our outstanding schools. Continued support of our schools as they fall into disrepair, need to be upgraded to safety standards, pay off existing debt to free up monies for new teachers and reduce classroom size of overcrowded classes, is the responsibility of a community that values education. Maintaining what we value comes at a cost. Continued support of an entity as important to our community as our outstanding schools, is essential. Please vote “Yes” for Bond Measure 9-108. Debbie & Jim Barnes • • • To the Editor: Last week, the U.S. government reported a stunning increase in suicides in 2014, marking the highest suicide rate since 1986. Among the findings: a 63 percent increase in middle-aged women and a 43 percent increase in middle- aged men taking their own lives. The study largely attributed the suicides in the middle-age group to financial pressures caused by the Great Recession, from which most Americans have still not recovered. In Sisters, like elsewhere, many people are still living paycheck-to-paycheck and one medical bill away from insolvency. Against this persistent backdrop of finan- cial struggle, insecurity and despair, the Sisters School District is asking taxpayers to pay for expensive, new athletic facilities (tennis courts and a ball field) earmarked in their $10.7 mil- lion bond measure (Measure 9-108 on the May 17 ballot). It’s déjà vu all over again. As with the last general obligation bond the Sisters School See LETTERS on page 30 Bond PAC offers informational meetings The Competing for Tomorrow Political Action Committee will be hosting two informal coffeehouse- style events for commu- nity members to learn more about the upcoming school bond, Measure 9-108 on Deschutes County’s May 17 ballot. Community members are invited to join committee members along with repre- sentatives from the Sisters School District, including Superintendent Curt Scholl, to answer any questions or give more detailed infor- mation about specifics on the proposed bond. The first event will be at Sisters Coffee Company on Hood Avenue, on Thursday, April 28 from 5 to 6 p.m. Another will be held at the Sisters Library Community Room on Thursday, May 5 from 4 to 6 p.m. Community members can also stop in at one of the information tables that will be manned on the following dates: • Wednesday, April 27, 4 to 6 p.m. — Melvin’s Fir Street Market • Thursday, May 5, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Melvin’s Fir Street Market • Tuesday, May 10, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Ray’s Food Place Details are available at our schoolsourcommunity.org or by emailing ourschools bond@gmail.com. www.NuggetNews.com
