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 Post subject: Hammond School Board Meeting 6-19-2017
PostPosted: Mon Jun 19, 2017 7:30 pm 
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Location: Hammond
Here are the highlights of the very quick meeting:

All board members were present.

Calendar:

The next regular school board meetings will be on monday july 10th and monday July 24th, both at 5:30pm at 41 Williams Street.

Public Expression 2nd Session(no speakers 1st session):

Carlotta King spoke of the need for the best Teachers and Administrators for the new high school.

My Take:

The only issue on the ballot for the Fall will be the monies sought by the SCH for a new high school and repairs to existing buildings. The majority of the school buildings are newer,or have had millions of dollars sunk into them already, for example the Career Center, and the just under the state $20 million dollar limit to generate a referendum, that was sunk into Morton High School. The new schools built within the past few years have had problems, like when the pipes burst at the brand new Irving, and ruined the media center, the new paint peeling and falling off the pipes at the new Edison, etc. It seems when we pay millions for new buildings, that there is no guarantee on them, like most people get when they have a new home built, or when you buy a new car.
The SCH does a poor job of taking care of the existing buildings, IMO, or just maybe this is deliberate so they can build, build, build. I saw with my own eyes, as Irving fell into disrepair because 41 Williams didn't care. What is the excuse for 41 Williams to not even have the pool fixed at Hammond High? It has not been usable for 5 years? According to the SCH, the pool costs too much money to fix, but yet they want to ram a BIG bill for repairs at other buildings and a new high school down our throats ! The SCH sure came up for the big bucks for the Career Center and for Morton High School, but couldn't come up with less than 3% of what they spent on them, to fix the Hammond High pool. They let Hammond High get into such a horrible condition several years ago, that the drapes were literally rotting on the windows, with pieces falling off, and the carpeting was patched and held together with duct tape.Paint was peeling in various areas of the school, also. I saw all this with my own eyes.
Bottom line is, we still owe millions for the previous building spree, and will for many years to come. Now, they want to add more to your tax bill. Going by the percentages quoted by the SCH, a house assessed at $67,000 will have an additional $530 a year tacked on to the property tax bill. Look at your current tax bill. Where you see the section for "voter approved projects"that is what you are paying now. If the SCH gets their wish, multiply your assessed value by 8, and you will have the additional amount that will be tacked on. The "voter approved projects" amount is not subject to any tax relief, so what you are hit with, sticks like glue.
We cannot afford this financial hit. IMO, the SCH has not been good stewards of the taxpayer monies. The civil city is not much better, as we have seen a substantial increase in our water/garbage/sanitary bill. We cannot afford another hit.
Mr. O'Rourke(sp), of the Hammond Teachers Union, at a previous meeting,said he will have the Teachers out going door to door to peoples homes, to get this referendum passed. MOST Hammond Teachers, and MANY employees and staff at 41 Williams Street are NOT Hammond residents. They have nothing to lose in all of this, but we, the residents of Hammond, will lose what little we have.


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