Letter: New school debt can set Westport on downward spiral

Posted 2/16/18

To the editor:

Passions are running high on the new Westport school ballot initiative, engaged citizens are listening and reading, debating with each other, and meeting in small and large groups …

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Letter: New school debt can set Westport on downward spiral

Posted

To the editor:

Passions are running high on the new Westport school ballot initiative, engaged citizens are listening and reading, debating with each other, and meeting in small and large groups and public meetings as they seek accurate and informed information before casting their votes on February 27.

Free speech is alive and well.

I have written several letters to the editor asking questions about, and expressing my view against, the new school proposal. And I have read the many letters that have appeared favoring the initiative. Some of those letters have referred to mine. I say the following in response.

To date no one has contacted me directly or written in the published press to challenge:

• The town and student demographic data cited, the existing competitive overcapacity among our regional public schools and the new seats coming on-stream, and the implications for building a new school.

• The town indebtedness information presented.

•  The recent Town of Westport v. Monsanto court ruling, and its impact on revisiting the possible use of the Middle School.

• The published fact that Dartmouth High School enrollment has decreased by about 300 students over the last several years.

• My statement that all alternatives have not been investigated, as represented by the lack of reaction to the Monsanto decision, and also by the fact that since 2011, when the PCB problem first arose and Dr. Carlos Colley apparently had a conversation with Dartmouth public school officials about possible collaboration, no Westport Board of Selectmen member, School Committee member, School Building Committee member, or Finance Committee member has approached the appropriate Dartmouth public school administrative officials to discuss the opportunity of possible regionalization or “tuitioning-in” high school students.

If I had to create a “doom loop” for Westport’s future financial health, and for delivering the best possible public school education to our students — especially those entering high school — I outline below what I would do, and the unfolding scenario I would project.

• Borrow $60 million or more under the current new school proposal.

• Load this debt on top of the existing $120 million town indebtedness due to a new $10 million police station, and an ever-increasing amount of unfunded retirement obligations now totaling over $100 million at realistic annual rate of return assumptions.

• Levy continuing, large property tax increases to cover required debt payments.

• Westport becomes still more unaffordable to attract young families with the children needed to fill the new school.

• An aging voter population, many on fixed incomes and burdened by the increased taxes, reject ongoing overrides to fund the large debt obligations and increasing town operating budgets, including additional school operating budget requests for curriculum improvements and enrichment programs in the arts,sports,and extra-curricular activities.

• Westport remains uncompetitive with other local public and private school alternatives, and students continue to leave, despite having the new building, especially as they enter high school.

• Our school board expands the “business” of “tuitioning-in” students from other local school districts in order to fill the empty seats.

• Our school is no longer a “community school.”

• As this cycle continues, and other town needs and services “crowd out” the school system for funds, taxes continue to increase, expenditures and services are cut — including in the school system — and the ability to deliver a quality education for our students continues to deteriorate.

— The financial and education “doom loop” is well-set in motion.

Newton’s law prevails: an object in motion stays in motion until it is acted upon by a countervailing force — until something or someone stops it.

I wish I saw things differently. I don’t.

Bill Reed

Westport

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