Letter to The Editor from Superintendent Guillette
February 26, 2010
Dear Editor:
As Superintendent of Schools for SAU #6 (Claremont, Cornish, and Unity, NH), I am obviously “in favor” of the revitalization project going to the Claremont voters on Tuesday, March 9th. There have been over 100 community, city, parent, staff, student, administration, and Board member participants in this process who have worked for almost 7 years to bring this bond forward to the voters. The process has been long, slow, and carefully done to incorporate community input, to review as many options for the high school facility as possible, and to find the most cost effective solution.
In the past two days two rumors have surfaced which are clouding the real issue in front of us which is: “ Do we revitalize Stevens High School now with the state’s assurance of 60% state building aid to help with the cost, or not?”
The first rumor we have encountered is that the state has decided to fund only 30% state building aid (in effect, half of what we are promised). I spoke to Mr. Ed Murdough at the Department of Education about this rumor. He is the person who oversees school facilities and building projects in NH. He had not even heard of the rumor!
Then I contacted Senator Molly Kelly who is the Chair of the State Building Aid Study Committee. She told me that she had just heard about the rumor from a reporter from our area. She said that she knows nothing about the rumor. She clarified that the Bill, SB486, states that the suspension of state building aid is for one year after June 30, 2010 and until June 30, 2011. Projects that are approved by voters prior to June 2010 will receive their allotted state building aid. No one knows what the percent of state building aid will be for other projects approved after June 2010. That is still being studied, as is how to fund and distribute state building aid when it returns in the future. However, from Senator Kelly: there is no basis for this rumor.
The second rumor is that the Claremont School District is doing something illegal by openly stating it is paying for signs, ads, and banners to urge citizens to vote FOR the project. This is NOT illegal. It would not have been done if the District thought it was in any way illegal.
The District sought two legal opinions and received the same answer from each attorney. In 2005 the US Supreme Court ruled that government not only has the right, but the duty to support its own positions. The District may spend the District’s money to promote its own positions. The District has been advised that this in NOT in violation of citizens’ first amendment rights under the Constitution. The District is doing the promotion based on that advice. Whether or not you agree with the District’s position on the bond itself or even on the District’s promoting its position on the bond, we believe the District’s actions are legal. The District absolutely would not have done it otherwise.
Campaign signs for citizens running for School Board positions are, of course, paid for by the candidates and their supporters – NOT by the District. That would be illegal.
The project has been judged by the many committee participants and architects along the way to be the most cost effective way of bringing our high school facility up to today’s standards, codes, and requirements. It respects the community’s expressed preference that Stevens remain where it is. It is much less costly than building a new high school.
Please decide your position on the revitalization project on its merits – not on rumors.
We do know that it’s a terrible time economically to bring this bond forward. We are all very sensitive to that. As you do, the District deals every day with the impact of difficult economic times on our students. This is such a hard, even emotional decision. No matter which way we as a community decide this issue, I know that this community is “FOR” Claremont. Please know that the District appreciates all this community does every day to support its schools and its children – your children and grandchildren.
Sincerely,
Jacqueline E. Guillette
Superintendent of Schools
Very well said. It is a very tough economic time but I think the revitalization of the high school is a necessity for the community. It will bring more growth to the area and broaden the tax base.
Thank you.