Cost-cut kabuki
I see that the Portland school board made a big show the other night out of how they're cutting money out of the liars' budgets for rebuilding Cleveland, Jefferson, and Wells (formerly Wilson) High Schools. According to the board, they're backing out "$20 million to $40 million per project," which I take it to mean per school.
Even if there's any substance at all to those numbers, they're a drop in the bucket compared to the hideously bloated budgets for the reconstructions. The last numbers I saw were $450 million for Cleveland, $435 million for Wells, and $491 million for Jefferson. Go ahead and knock $40 million out of the projections for each and you're still at an average of roughly $420 million per school.
“They are going to be amazing high schools. They are going to be blow-your-mind cool high schools,” said Deborah Kafoury, PPS’s chief of staff.
So why bother with the fiscal responsibility theater? Well, it's to soften up the voters, who are going to be asked to fork over another $1.83 billion in property taxes, plus huge amounts for bond interest, to platinum-plate more of Portland's crumbling public schools. As Revolving-Door Deborah explained, “It is our belief that we can have those schools for a cost that the taxpayers can feel comfortable paying.”
Not that the electorate needs any softening. If it's "for the children," it's a slam dunk. You could double that $1.83 billion, even triple it, and it would still pass. Onto everyone's property tax bills it goes. Along with rents. Then let's all have a good cry about the "housing crisis."
I wouldn't mind paying to fix up all the schools if enrollments weren't declining and test scores weren't plummeting. It seems like it's time to talk about closing one of the high schools and fixing up the rest.
Anyway, good show by the school board! I hope the drama societies at the high schools were watching. It's like when Ron Wyden's in town. "Look! Look! I'm in Oregon! Not in New York City with my wife and kids!" In this case it's ""Look! Look! We're not wasting money!"
As a long time sports referee at the high school level, I have to laugh at the renovations. Officials, especially in basketball, meet in some office before our games. Pre-renovation, we're usually in a coach's office in a basement, with leaking pipes covered in asbestos. After renovations, we're at least in nicer rooms - often an equipment room with no bathroom. Apparently they cut costs by not planning for a simple room for officials.
ReplyDeleteNah, those are the places to cut. You literally spend mere minutes in those rooms.
DeleteMore like a shell game than kabuki IMO.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe the PPS board voted to send the ballot measure to voters without having any idea of what they're going to do with the money or how much things are going to cost.
ReplyDeleteWith only 530 students, PPS should be closing Jefferson instead of spending $491 million rebuilding it.
They have detailed plans that involved all sorts of public/school community input on all three projects.
DeleteI do agree about Jefferson. Time to close it down and sell the land.
This proposal might make the school board feel good about themselves. But, I never thought bricks and mortar had a large effect on improving student education. Improving the comfort and safety of the students and faculty for sure. But, not academic improvement.
ReplyDeleteA hundred years ago, Oregon was considered among the most literate states in the country.
DeletePrediction: Cost estimates will be lowered to make it palatable, then come the cost overruns and “oops, our bad math”. Followed by more bond measures to keep things ( cough PERS cough) going.
ReplyDeleteThe cost per student keeps going up, while test scores go way down. Gov. Tina said it was one of her top priorities but hasn't even come out and made a statement about how horrible it all is. So sad for the kids- who's only value seems to be used as props to get more tax revenue.
ReplyDeleteI've often wondered why renters can vote on property-tax measures.
ReplyDeleteWeird take. Renters pay them, just through their rent. Property taxes go up, landlords raise the rent.
DeleteHow many renters understand this? And how about thoser\ "renters" in the tax-supported "affordable" units courtesy of Metro and the county?
DeleteI'm powerful glad I don't live in the CoP or the PPS district!
ReplyDeleteIt’s absolutely insane how much PPS is spending on these high school projects. Now, don’t get me wrong, they need to be done (except Jefferson, it should be torn down and the land sold), but they are spending way more than they need too. Most other districts that are doing similar projects, both in and out of Oregon, are building amazing schools for much less. The school board needs to wake up.
ReplyDelete