I would like to explain more why we are asking for this Levy. Our middle school is 25 years old. Because of its age it is needing some expensive maintenance. The shingle roof is original and over the last couple of years has had some leaking problems. We were told that every time a leak is patched it cost approximately $5,000. To me this is a not a responsible way to spend the district's money. When the roof is replaced these expensive patches will be tore off and replaced too.
The oldest part of the high school roof also leaks and has had patches. Some ceiling tiles recently fell down in the gym, from moisture caused by a leak.
The first year of the Supplemental Levy funding will be mostly spent on a new shingle roof for the middle school and replacement of the roofing on the old part of the high school. The remainder of the funds would be spent on supporting the new music program. They would like to get new music, repair the old school owned instruments, and work toward buying some new instruments. Some of the school instruments were used clear back when I was in elementary school. That was a long time ago.
A big portion of the second year of funding would be used on the bus barn. The biggest problem is the bus shop is to small to hold a bus inside, so when he needs to work on one he often has to do it all outside. The barn itself is also to small to hold the busses. Exactly the best solution with the barn hasn't been determined yet. But something needs done.
Another problem with the middle school is the dirt berms around most of the walls. The berms help insulate the building saving energy costs, but in many places moisture has worked its way between the berm and cement walls. This has caused water getting into the building, damaging floors and walls. The plan is to remove the berms in at least the worse places and repair the leaks in the walls. The berms wouldn't be put back. Many of the windows in the middle school have been replaced, but there are a lot more that need replaced. The doorways into the building also need repaired and new locks need installed.
There are many areas around all the buildings where the asphalt has big cracks. It needs to be repaired to keep it from getting worse and to make it safer to walk on. Removing of the floor tiles and polishing the cement in the high school, like they have done with most of the hallways is also planned.
The last thing for the second year would be to put more money into the music program. These prices are estimates and things can vary, but there is a strong desire to support the music program. The community support for music coming back into the school has been very satisfying. I think we also have a great teacher who is very excited to grow the program into something we haven't had for many years.
We don't get enough funding from the state to take care of these expensive maintenance needs. I don't want to keep paying for roof patches with no lasting benefit. There are other scheduled repairs and replacement projects planned out of other funding we have. I think all our buildings are sound and in overall good shape, but like any aging building, they do need maintenance to keep them that way. The Levy vote will be March 13th in the usual voting locations. There will also be early voting available in the county courthouse.
I would encourage everyone to vote, and support our schools. We have a very conservative district. These funds will not be wasted. If you have any questions, please let me know.
Thank you, Brian Esplin
I couldn't get the chart from the school to copy over onto this. I have posted it on my Facebook page.
ReplyDeleteBrian, even though you are not my Zone trustee, I appreciate you posting information up on a public site open to everyone. Not many willing to do this. I have one of many questions for you though. I was told by another trustee that all of the money for music would be spent in the first year and most likely not all of it could be spent in the music program and the 2nd year of the music program money actually would not be needed. This was relayed from another trustee as it was obtained directly from Mr. Tubbs at your last Board meeting when he said the music program couldn't use all of the money allocated in this levy. My question is this. If all of the money being allocated is not needed as shown in the brochure in the places indicated, then why is it being presented that way? Also, if the items being presented to the Patrons are just estimates, why don't you have firmer figures instead of just an estimate. Seems to me that you would want to present the most accurate information to the public that you can. Many of the items have 3 different options. Why? What is really being considered in this levy. It doesn't sound to me like anyone in the administration or Board really can give definitive information as I have talked to several trustees, read an article in the Blackfoot morning news that is different and several Facebook pages where posts on this have been made are different facts. What is the truth on this? Might be time for reconsideration and for everyone to be on the same page and give definitive answers instead of estimates and guesses. Time is running short and right now, I am not sure that the public has been given the truth as to what really this levy will cost and what the money really is going to be used for.
ReplyDeleteMr. Martin
DeleteI would be happy to talk to you to answer your questions if you would like. Just email me with your phone number and I will give you a call.
Let me try and answer what I can. The reason there are estimates is because a firm bid can't be provided for work that would occur until next year and the year after. As far as the roof work, I think the quotes are pretty close to what is known now, but how much they might change by the summer of 2019, who can accurately predict that? The same with the other costs. When asking for a levy districts aren't required to give specifics. I believe we could have stated we needed the money for building maintenance and operations. However we feel it's better to provide as much information as possible.
The music program could use all the money we could provide. The reason estimates are given on the music is primarily because we don't know how much Levy money would be left after fixing the roofs. Since the bus barn wouldn't be addressed until 2020, it's hard to provide many details on it.
The berms are all around the middle school, the levy proposal is to just take out the worst berm. The one running along the gym. We don't want moisture to damage the gym floor which would be very expensive to fix. If we have extra funding, more berms would be taken out. Hope this helps. Email me if you desire. Thanks
Mr. Esplin, totally understand what you are saying on the estimates, but, on each item, you say, repair/replace/remove. It just seems to me that one of the 3 would be identified for each item wanting to be worked upon instead; it looks like no one has an idea as to what really needs to be done. As I originally stated, I have talked to several individuals both on the board and who have heard the speal and read as much as I can find that has been posted publicly, and nothing is consistent on what is actually wanted.
DeleteThe Music program has been identified multiple times that only a small portion of the money that is actually identified will totally take care of the music program needs. Multiple people have stated that the money in year 2 for the music program is not actually needed. This comes from another board member and in the article in the Blackfoot Morning News from Mr. Tubbs. Mr. Tubbs says the math program is also included, but it is not identified on the school website or on the brochure that is being passed around.
I was specifically told that any money left over from the music program would go to the math program and that the money in year 2 for the music/math program was not needed. It appears to me, and I now several others, that if it is not going to be used as identified, then why is so much being asked for? If there is money is going to the Math Program, then it needs to be disclosed upfront instead of hidden and then slipped into other programs.
A lot of the information portrayed this go around is similar to the larger levy that was voted down in 2011 except there was much more detail in that proposal. And, I really feel that some of the same things have happened here, not much community interaction until the last month or less. Now that information is posted on the school website, to which I suspect less than half have access to, does not address many of the questions I am asking you here.
In 2011, I asked the Board to look at the overall impacts to the fixed income of many of the patrons of the school District as that levy had an impact on this issue too. I will be upfront on an issue that rubs me raw is that the school district gave Mr. Tubbs a salary increase of $7,000.00 in 2016. According to the minutes of the board, you are considering another pay increase this year. I don't know exactly how his salary is paid, and the point is this. The increase in yearly amounts to patrons is going to be about another $7.16/$100,000 in property value. The point I am making here is this, Mr. Tubbs gets a $7,000.00 salary increase and considering another increase, yet, over the past 2 years, my family has had a total cost of living increase on our retirement benefits of $6.00 in two years. So, the school district is taking not only my families total cost of living increase from us, but another $1.16/month. And where do we make that up from? And, I would imagine many others in the School District are in the same situation. I said this in 201l and say it again.
I just don't see the Board or administration advancing from many of the open issues that existed in 2011 including a school newsletter to which many discussions over that took place back then and still are not resolved. As to what is happening now, I actually see less upfront information being presented to the patrons now than there was back in 2011 and I just can’t support that now. These are just some of my concerns over what is being presented. I do hope that the Board considers this because I have raised it several times to no avail.
Thanks for listening, Rick Martin
I couldn't put all of my comment in my earlier post so I will finish it here.
ReplyDeletePlease do not get the opinion that I/we don't support the School District as I have been accused of in several public forums. That is the farthest thing from the truth, In the early 2000's, my family, and we didn't have kids in school, supported the girls basketball program and other athletic programs with personal donations over about a 3+ period of time well in excess of $1,500.00 when teams were going to state and district tournaments. In addition going to state games and supporting them.
You were on the board back then and I was told by several Board Members and individuals in the Community, if I wanted to get involved in the Board, to volunteer for some of the committees. I made an offer to help via e-mail and personal communications to several, but, I never heard a word about helping.
The same goes for offering to help coach the varsity football linemen one year and there are other things when we did have kids in school. But, as I said, I have been chastised openly on public websites for not supporting the School District.
One last thing, on the school website, we are told if we need to contact our Zone Representatives to use the given phone numbers and e-mail address'. As you know, I recently reached out to you on the minutes of the School board because my zone representative does not use the provided phone number or e-mail address. So, if school board Trustee's don't use those methods of contact, how the hell are we to know how to contact someone? All school board members should be required to use those methods of contact as provided. All patrons do not know the trustees personally or have other methods of contact, so we depend upon that information. When we can't reach our representative, we have to resort to other methods, to which may include Facebook (to which should not be used for school board issues) and other Board members.
So with that, I am sorry I got so long winded, but, I just had to express some of my concerns and issues that have risen on this levy that seem to just go ignored.
Thanks
Rick Martin
Mr. Martin
DeleteI can't address all your concerns on this page. I will mention more about the music program. I don't know where you got your information about the music program, but there is definitely a need beyond the first year of this levy. Some things mentioned. Much of their music is very old. It cost several hundred dollars for every new piece of music. Several school owned instruments were in need of repairs. Just to fix them cost, I think he said $6,000. Some are beyond repair, and need replaced over time. For example, the base drum they use is a marching drum turned on it's side. A saxophone that is beyond repair, I played in elementary over 45 years ago. Their is also a need to employ an aide part time to play the piano. Volunteers have been doing it, but it's hard to sustain the needed assistance. The new music teacher is very energetic and excited about growing and sustaining the program. Restoring the music program was strongly encouraged by the community. It would be irresponsible to now not give the program the support needed.
I feel like many funding details have been provided. Most of the first years levy will go to the roofs. It's a real need. The only multiple options given are about the bus barn situation. Since it won't be until 2020 before this work could be done, it's hard to define exactly the best course of action. At minimum, I would think building a shop big enough to hold a bus would be done. Do we tare down the whole thing, or keep using the barn to hold the buses it can hold? These discussions will take place closer to the time the work can be done. As I said before, there is a lot more maintenance that can be done if there are funds leftover from doing the other work.
We aren't asking for any frills. The buildings need maintenance that can't be paid for in any other way. It bothers me that we have had to waste money patching the roofs, instead of replacing them.
I know I didn't answer all your questions, but I can't discuss personnel type issues. We have a very conservative district that has been well management by the Superintendent and Business Manager.
Thank you for what you have done for the district in the past. I too no longer have kids in the district, but I do have a grandson, and want what's best for our kids. Thanks, Brian
I will tell you directly where I got the information on the music program and that the entire amount asked for was over programed and that the $10,000.00 asked for in the first year was more than what actually was needed. I got that directly from Mr. Christensen via a Facebook message and he got it directly from Mr. Tubbs. Here is what Mr. Christensen told me; "And Mr. Tubbs presentation in February just last week, he expressed we may not be able to use all that money toward music. With the change in curriculum to common core, many of our math textbooks are not approved."
ReplyDeleteAnd to quote Mr. Tubbs statement in the Blackfoot Morning News on February 10, 2018, and you can Google it up, he said, "He explained, "For curriculum, money would be funneled into the music and math programs in the first year."
So if it is in the first year, why is it shown in the 2nd year if it is just the first year as indicated here and also based on Mr. Christensen's message to me via Facebook? That is why I don't believe the School Board or Trustees are on the same page as to what the money in the levy will be used for. And as to your comment about not commenting on personnel matters, I am assuming you are talking about Mr. Tubbs Salary. That is public money and the School Board placed it in Minutes of the January 2018 board meeting and it is in the teacher/administration contracts that are open public records and are on the School website. So that is nothing private or pertaining to any personnel matters.
I have a copy downloaded of these records from the school website and under school policy and public records policy they are to be placed in the open for the public to view. In addition, the personnel salary costs can be Googled up any time any place.
Again, Brian, I thank you for having such an open "public" forum for Patrons to be able to follow what is happening and to be able to comment on issues of the School Board. Other Trustees have closed Facebook pages unless you join and then don't allow open discussion is a form of censorship to which can not subscribe to. If we can not discuss differences of opinion and agree to disagree on issues, we will never get anywhere.
So again, thank you for posting information up that you have and allowing me (us) to post what information we have received to the contrary to try and show that the information out there by the Board and Administration is not all on the same page.
Thanks
Rick
Mr. Martin
DeleteI'm not going to get in the middle of other conversations. I wasn't aware of the problem with the math curriculum. I knew they wanted to replace some, but wasn't aware it wasn't acceptable to use anymore. Regardless this money is a small part of what is being asked for.
One thing to remember is Mr. Tubbs is both the Superintendent and Elementary Principal. It's difficult to do both jobs. The district saves a tremendous amount of money having him willing to do both jobs. We hope as a board with better funding from the state that this scenario won't have to continue much longer.
As I said earlier we aren't required to give near the details that we have provided. The money will be used for the items mentioned, but exact amounts are unknown. If the state is requiring that we update some of the curriculum, then yes it will have to come first, and regardless of what happens with the approval of this levy. I assure you there is no intention to mislead or mistate anything, by anyone.
Thanks again for your interest. I hope I have helped answer your concerns.
Brian
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteMr. Martin
DeleteI deleted your last comment. I feel like you went too far off topic and were not appropriate for my blog. From here I would recommend you talk to Mr. Tubbs if you have anymore questions on this topic. I think I have explained matters regarding the levy about as good as I can. Thanks for your concern, hope I helped.
Brian
That's fine Brian, but, you were the one that started the subject. And once again, when a subject is brought up and someone with whom this school board has differeing opinions with, the comments by that patron are deleted or "censored". this is the 2nd time now that this has happened by this Board to me in the recent weeks. But, that is fine if the Board wants to treat folks that way. You can delete the post, but, I do have a copy of what was posted so it's not a big deal to me and what I posted should be of concern and looked into by the Board for performance related matters. Thanks again and this is the last post I will make on anything school related since differing opinions seem to get ignored and swept under the rug. Thanks for your time.
ReplyDeleteRick
I was all ready to attend the Board meeting tonight to address some of the issues I have identified above and more, but, since I have been dealing for over 4 years of chronic knee pain due to a knee replacement, I have had a set back this week due to an improper physical therapy treatment that will not allow me to attend this meeting. I am posting this up here because I am willing to bet that more people are following this forum than who are members, so I just wanted you to know Brian as to why I will not be in attendance tonight. After receiving the flyer in the mail on the levy, once again, I find inconsistencies in what the levy money is going for. I have not found more than any one article, forum, statement or fact posted anywhere on this levy that has been consistent between "official" position anyplace around. This should really concern any patron or voter within the Firth School District since we all should know exactly where our tax dollars are going. Thanks Brian again for leaving this in an open forum and for anyone to be able to read and educate themselves on what is happening within the Firth School District.
ReplyDeleteRick Martin
Hats off to the school district for passing the school levy. I hope it is spent wisely and in the places that it is best needed and where the school district will get the biggest bang for the buck.
ReplyDeleteBut, seeing what the vote tally was, a grand total of 410 patrons in the School District even showed up to vote one way or another. There is roughly 1300 registered voters in the School District so that is about a 30% or so turnout. How disappointing this is. So something is amiss with the school trustees and others to get folks out to vote on such an important issue. Especially when it comes to spending our hard earned money that is now going to be taxed and spent. I don't know what the answer is, but, I challenge the Board and administration to be much more transparent with their meetings, postings to the School Websites and to once again send out a monthly news letter to all the patrons of the school district to let everyone know what is happening. This is not a new issue, the same discussions were taking place after loosing the levy in 2011, and there still is no resolution to this. Something needs to be done folks and as I said, we the patrons can only challenge our trustees and administration so much, but, if they sit back and just let things go, it will never change. Make some hard decisions. Yes you will upset some, but, be transparent with our money, with the school programs etc. If you look at the school policies, there are many that are not kept current as to what is supposed to be posted on the school website. Some school plans are as much as 2-3 years old and are to be posted for everyone to see yearly. Please, bring those education plans forward and make them current. Most people don't know that and wont take the time to dig into what is supposed to be available to the public and patrons, but, our trustees and administration need to be transparent with those documents, don't hide them. And to me, it goes to performance of everyone associated with the school district for not keeping all of that information available for everyone.
Once again, congrats to the school District, but, please look at how poor the turn out was, it is shameful, so please look at a much better transparent overview of what the school district is and can be.
Rick Martin