Somers School Situation Redux

The Board of Education (BOE) of the Somers Central School District (SCSD) hosted a Community Forum this past Tuesday evening (May 24th) to seek input from the public regarding a proposed $55 million expansion project for three of the four Somers public schools.

And public input they got.

A large crowd of concerned residents packed the Primrose School cafeteria, listened intently to a brief presentation from Russ Davidson, whose architectural firm had been hired by the Board to draw up the proposed expansion plans -- during which, it is important to note, specific costs related to the plans were revealed for the first time -- and voiced their opinions accordingly.

Ranging from genuine concerns about the overall cost of the proposal and how that might effect seniors and others on limited or fixed incomes, to questions concerning the large class sizes at Primrose Elementary school (which are not specifically addressed in the proposal, although the fact that the SCSD's recent move to new offices in Bailey Court frees up three classrooms at Primrose), to speeches about how necessary the proposed new auditorium at the Middle School and new gymnasium and athletic facilities at the High School really are, the discussion was lively and at times quite spirited.

Several residents (including yours truly) expressed their displeasure with what they termed the BOE's lack of planning and foresight, claiming that the current overcrowding issue could have been remedied earlier on if better planning had been exercised, and that the proposal now in front of Somers taxpayers provides no real options or alternatives. One resident pointed out that only last October the BOE had told taxpayers that renovation of the schools would be "a waste of taxpayers' dollars", and that building a new school was clearly the preferred course of action. But, she pointed out, the failed BOCES vote was only one of several botched attempts by the BOE to purchase an appropriate piece of property on which to build a new school. Gasps were audible in the room when she described how the 18-acre Supple property adjacent to the high school was offered to the Board for less than $900,000, summarily rejected because it was too expensive for taxpayers to handle and then purchased by a local developer a couple of years later for $500,000.

So, now we're faced with a $55 million construction bill, as well as the BOE's wish to pursue finding land for a new school (this time an elementary school, as that would require a smaller piece of property) and, not too far down the road, increased budgets to take care of all the new teachers (along with their salaries and benefits and retirement costs) that will be hired to fill all the new (and definitely much-needed) classrooms.

The proposed bond would add a total of 23 new classrooms (and other instructional rooms), thus going a long way towards alleviating projected overcrowding at both the high school and middle school. It also allows for four new classrooms at SIS, which is already overcrowded, but nothing for the elementary school, where small classroom size is particularly important.

And in that $55 million bill we'll find a new $5 million dollar auditorium at the middle school, a new $4 million dollar second gymnasium for the high school (along with approximately $6 million in new ball fields, exterior lighting, artificial turf, a dance studio, new lobbies and entrances, and so on) and last, but not least, a $4 million bus depot that will house 181 vehicles on 3.5 acres of impervious surface smack dab in the middle of a wetland adjacent to the high school (although the BOE would have us believe that there is not a wetland in sight!).

[Ed. Note: the detailed cost estimates and drawings are now available on the SCSD’s website,at http://www.somers.k12.ny.us]

No one can dispute that Somers’ schools are in dire need of expansion and rehabilitation, especially to remedy the serious overcrowding that permeates all four schools. Furthermore, the new athletic facilities proposed for the high school and the new auditorium at the middle school will surely enhance not only our childrens’ educational experience and opportunities, but be a boon to the community as a whole.

But we find the entire situation troubling for several reasons.

First, the fact that the overcrowding situation was not addressed earlier is of serious concern. No one on the Board of Education or in the administration can claim that they were blindsided by rising enrollment numbers. Despite the fact that their demographer’s reports failed to predict the gravity of this issue, signs pointing to it were evident everywhere in town. New housing subdivisions seemed to pop up with surprising frequency, traffic and congestion were epidemic, recreation facilities (many owned by the school district) stretched to capacity. Almost everyone acknowledges that the $20 million school bond in 1998 was a mere ‘band aid’ solution to a situation that has quickly evolved into a near crisis for Somers’ school children. Class sizes of 25-27 in kindergarten and above are simply unacceptable, and we feel that the BOE was negligent in not recognizing the need for more classrooms, especially after the decision to move to a full day kindergarten program clearly exacerbated the problem at Primrose Elementary School.

In her summation at the end of Tuesday night’s forum, superintendent Marien responded to criticism by pointing out that she had, both in her previous role as assistant superintendent and in her current position, worked diligently with the BOE to improve the curriculum offered to Somers’ school children. We find it ironic that their obvious diligence in this area -- while certainly commendable and much-needed, especially a decade ago – does not appear to have been accompanied by an urgent recognition of the fact that rising enrollment in the district should have been dealt with promptly, especially insofar as it could end up seriously undermining all their hard work in the curriculum area.

So as to prevent that type of inaction in the future, we recommend that the BOE engage interested members of the community in working with them on a five- and ten-year comprehensive school plan, one that would carefully analyze and prepare for a host of contingencies regarding future budgets, capital improvements, curricula, staffing, etc. In addition, we would like to suggest that the BOE look into hiring consultants on an ‘as needs’ basis to help them with specific issues with which they might require assistance. We would also like to see term limits imposed on board members’ service to the BOE, especially in light of the fact that at least three of its current members have served there since the early 90’s. A constant flow of new blood, fresh ideas and perhaps even more specific expertise would benefit the district and the community at large. Furthermore, the BOE should be much more aggressive in encouraging more active participation from parents and others in the community, particularly with respect to service on the board and the development of a comprehensive plan.

We are also very concerned about the new bus facility proposed for what we feel is an environmentally sensitive property behind the high school. That school districts in New York do not have to heed local regulations and ordinances is troubling enough; that our school district seems predisposed to so flagrantly ignoring the Town of Somers’ stated objectives with respect to water resource protection is deeply disturbing. In New York State as much as 94% of existing wetland regions are not afforded protection under the law, because the state currently regulates wetlands of 12.4 acres and larger. Most communities protect wetlands of only one acre in size or smaller – Somers included – but the schools can skirt those regulations. We have argued elsewhere that the plans for 3.5 acres of impervious surface, parking for 181 vehicles (buses, vans and automobiles), fueling and storage capabilities for gasoline and diesel, maintenance garage and office building involved in this $3.8 million project constitute nothing more than a glorified gas station! We’re willing to bet that Exxon or Texaco would never get permission to build a ‘real’ gas station on that specific property – why then should the SCSD be allowed to?

As one member of the audience pointed out on Tuesday, why are we even considering paying all that money to build a facility for buses we don’t own? And why would we want that facility adjacent to any of our schools, wetlands or not? These are excellent questions that deserve better answers.

Finally, we are struck by what is perhaps the ultimate irony of this entire situation. Most people who have chosen to live in Somers did so because of a combination of three things: (1) the semi-rural beauty of the Town and its surroundings; (2) the low tax base; and (3) the good school system. How incongruous then that all three now stand so jeopardized by our collective decision to move here! Suburban sprawl has insidiously crept into this entire region – and many others across the nation – threatening the very quality of life we have all worked so hard to achieve.

Organizations like ours have sprung up all over this country to promote slow growth, encourage better and ‘smarter’ planning practices and foster a stronger sense of urgency, responsibility and commitment on the part of local citizens and taxpayers. And, like us, many of these groups have made considerable progress and achieved wonderful successes, small and large.

Yet, if in the face of overdevelopment and sprawl, taxpayers demand even more amenities and services than local municipalities can reasonably offer, then the downward spiral will continue, taxes and housing prices will soar, valued members of the community will be forced to leave, and we will all be the poorer as a result.

Now is the time to give all of these issues serious contemplation. Get better informed, learn about the issues, and do your homework. Attend public meetings, ask questions and demand more from the men and women you elected. Then, decide for yourself what is truly important for yourself, for your children and for this community and act accordingly. And understand that your decisions will affect an entire community, for better or worse.