EDITOR: An independent consultant gave a financial report on the
cost over-runs associated with the recently completed Barrett
Elementary School at last week
’s School Board meeting. Although the report indicated a cost
over-run of $3 million (23 percent over plan), if you factor in the
cost of land and other associated expenses a projected $12.5
million elementary school was nearer to $20 million (60 percent
over plan) when the doors finally opened.
EDITOR:
An independent consultant gave a financial report on the cost over-runs associated with the recently completed Barrett Elementary School at last week’s School Board meeting.
Although the report indicated a cost over-run of $3 million (23 percent over plan), if you factor in the cost of land and other associated expenses a projected $12.5 million elementary school was nearer to $20 million (60 percent over plan) when the doors finally opened.
Although some of the cost over-runs were unavoidable others were not. Much of the over budget expense was attributed to “the construction contract”, the “lack of any real fiscal over-sight” and a “rush” to complete the project on the part of the school district.
This raises three important questions; who was responsible for approving contractual agreement in the first place, why didn’t Morgan Hill School District have a qualified individual watching the chicken coop door and why the big hurry?
Hold on to your hats. The same construction company has operated under essentially the same contract on three other construction projects in the district; Sobrato High School, Live Oak temporary campus and the renovation of Live Oak High School. Here’s the kicker, if you look at the financial numbers provided by the district as part of the public record all three projects are considerably over plan.
My point is this. Whether it’s $6 or $6 million, the ultimate responsibility for exceeding a budgeted expense lies with the Board of Trustees.
Delegating authority to the superintendent and her staff doesn’t eliminate the board’s fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers of this district. You can’t delegate your own accountability to a subordinate.
In my opinion the prior board of trustees (four members of which are still on the board) is guilty of gross mismanagement of public funds.
In the real world this type of irresponsibility often leads to termination. It’s time for the board of trustees to step up to the plate and do what they were elected to do, represent the interest of the taxpayer.
Harlan Warthen, Morgan Hill
