EDITOR: At a recent meeting of the Morgan Hill School District
Board, one trustee made a comment that I have given a great deal of
thought to. During a discussion about budget cuts it was obvious to
me that this particular individual was beginning to feel the heat
coming from the public who was trying to argue that certain
programs they supported needed to be saved.
EDITOR:
At a recent meeting of the Morgan Hill School District Board, one trustee made a comment that I have given a great deal of thought to. During a discussion about budget cuts it was obvious to me that this particular individual was beginning to feel the heat coming from the public who was trying to argue that certain programs they supported needed to be saved.
In explaining the hours spent each week this trustee stated that sometimes you have to rely on “The Professionals” for answers. I would assume that this meant the district administration.
Six out of seven of the prior board members relied on “The Professional’s” recommendation to the point that in four years there were only six dissenting votes in total among them. Five of the seven current board members appear to be relying on the same game plan, when in doubt go with “The Professionals’ recommendation.”
Something has to change this “business-as-usual” mentality because the game plan isn’t working.
The district, under the supervision of the trustees, has proven they are incapable of bringing any construction project in on plan or even close to the original estimate. If you look at the record for El Toro, Barrett, Live Oak temporary campus, Live Oak remodel and Sabrato High School, the district has exceeded the original estimates by millions of dollars.
The district completed the last fiscal reporting period with $92 in the checking account and yet they have a hard time understanding the district is broke.
The same night the board was faced with approving $1.4 million of the $3.7 million in necessary budget cuts, the board was also asked to approve $1.7 million of job change orders for Sabrato High School that were authorized by “The Professionals.”
I could continue, but my point is this, relying on “The Professionals’ recommendation” seems to be costing a lot of taxpayer money.
It is obvious to me that we have a majority of the School Board of Trustees and a district superintendent that are guilty of gross mismanagement of public funds and a total disregard for their fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers of the district.
Harlan Warthen,
Morgan Hill
