An Open Letter To Fall Mountain Voters/Residents

            On Tuesday, you will have an opportunity to decide the future of the region and the school district.  On behalf of the School Board, I apologize for presenting you with tough decision that only a year ago would have been the equivalent of a “no-brainer”.   Our timing, on the surface, to ask you to tax yourselves in the middle of the recession, is unconscionable…or is it?  If you’re a property owner and in the 5% who have lost your employment recently and not sure where you’re going to get your mortgage and tax money, then I’d vote against the high school renovation package this year too.  If you’re in the 95% who are still out there plugging away and hoping we’re close to turning the tide on the recession, then I ask you to “damn the torpedoes and steam full speed ahead” (you get a gold star if you know who said that-smile).  Historically, property values also have always increased where schools/systems have been renovated/improved (#1 issue for middle class homebuyers the last 50 years), and our five towns are no exception with the Hanover/Lebanon corridor growing in on us from the North and Keene expanding to the Southwest.  If what I think will happen happens over the next decade, we’ll also become desirable middle/upper middle class bedroom communities (look at how nice Main Street Charlestown has become the last few years) for a rejuvenated  Claremont and Springfield light industrial base right next door to us, and we need to be ready.    

I also wish I could tell you it was planned, but the truth is it was “pure dumb luck” that we have a public works construction project ready to start in 2009 that qualifies for the new federal money in the stimulus package.  The initial figure we received that would be allocated to the school renovation based on the House version was $500,000.  The compromise that got passed, probably lessoned that amount, but even if it’s $100,000 or $250,000, it’s plain idiotic to “look a gift horse in the face” and not accept it graciously.  If we don’t, you can bet your bottom dollar somebody else will.  We all know “there’s no free lunch “ and eventually we’ll end up paying for it somehow, but I’d like to see our five towns get some benefit from it at least since we are paying for it.  The other point I want to make here is that New Hampshire has this incredibly wonderful reimbursement program for 55% of the cost of the project.  Yes, you end up paying for that too eventually, but over the last eight years I’ve seen almost all of the high schools we play in sports completely renovate their high schools (or build brand new gorgeous ones) that we helped pay for, and frankly, it’s our turn to reap some reward from the program.  Because of the State participation, our part is only $2.2 million (they pay $2.7 million); you’ve already saved $900,000 of that amount, so the balance of what we need to raise locally over five years (not 20) is only $1.3 million, and the larger figure has $500K of contingency that I hope we don’t have to use and will be put aside for future projects or returned to the towns.  I also don’t have to tell anyone in the building trades that material costs are at a 16 year low, interest rates are the lowest since WW II I think,  and construction bids won’t be any more competitive than they are right now.  In short, we should strike decisively while the iron is hot.

My last input to you is that we are so blessed to be living where we are.  Our quality of life is second to none, and I think this is still the best place in the country to raise children.  Much of that goes to your willingness to keep our public schools in what I consider the “excellent” category and the best rural school system in New England.  Each year, that Podunk high school of ours out there gets kids into some of the best colleges, universities and technical schools in the country (So far this year for example, I’ve heard about Cornell University, US Coast Guard Academy and Culinary Institute of America acceptances).  At the other end, I’ve run into some kids who had dropped out and I thought were destined for a prison camp somewhere and they’ve now turned themselves around and are back on track.  Some went to the military after getting a GED, some just finally grew up and got serious about life and came back to finish school and their diploma, and others are in the workforce and gainfully supporting themselves (pretty good in today’s world for a 19 or 20 year old).  The point is that you pulled together and systematically created an environment that worked for a whole spectrum of generations to date, and I ask you to do it for the next generations to come.  The roof on the high school is shot and leaking profusely (23 years old). Part of the roof structure needs to be restressed because it’s the same as the part that collapsed 12 years ago ($200K you’ll never see but needs to be done).  The shop areas have equipment that’s unsafe by today’s standards, and need to be upgraded ($100K), and the locker rooms and bathrooms are still not compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act- even after 37 years.  The current structure has served us well for 43 years, but it’s very tired and it’s time to build something for the next 43 years.  Again, if you’re in that 95% who are concerned but haven’t been directly affected particularly (except seeing your investments drop by half-smile), then I ask you to vote to pass the High School Renovation (Warrant #1) Project this year so we can start in June ’09 and finish in January ‘10.  The recession will end at some point in the next 12 months and those who prepare for the future and take advantage of the opportunities they’re presented with during it will come out even stronger-including our school district.   Remember…damn the torpedoes….full speed ahead (Admiral Farragut when he captured Mobile Bay for the Union under very adverse conditions during the Civil War-smile).  Thank you.

Respectfully submitted,

Chas Street, Member

Fall Mountain Regional School Board