Jenny seems to be the official "shill" for B2020. This article is nothing but sour grapes and misinformation. Again.

"Happy" "New" "Year" "Jenny."

If you signed the recall petition mistakenly or have changed your mind I'd strongly urge you to contact the number listed in the blog and ask for your name to be deleted from their data base. I would also explicitly tell them they are not authorized to use your name in any efforts regarding future elections. This is your choice, not theirs. Obviously, if you're comfortable with them furnishing your name to anyone in future elections stay with that, it's your right just as asking for your name to be removed from their database.

There are three reasons for singing the recall petition of BHSEB: 1. A Mega, united or not, is not the best for our students who want to achieve high scholastic education that can compete nationally and internationally. Small schools, in many studies, proved to be better than big schools greater than 1000 students. Buildings even sophisticated do not produce better students. While New York and Chicago are dismantling big schools we are building one big school. The global education trend including Michigan is to invest in education of the very young not in high schools. 2. The planed high school is extremely expensive given that this is a "pay as you go" plan where the total cost is concealed. There is 20% overhead, legal costs etc. which add to the cost of an 85,5 million dollar bond. This bond will cost BHSEB about $7,2 million annually. The community cannot afford this kind of levy given that 68% are retired, seniors or unemployed. 3. The community voted down two millages in 2005 and 2007. The community has spoken. Building an extravagant school in dire economy, loss of property vaue, cut in student funding by Michigan is irresponsible. The recall of the Board should have infused our board with new blood and remove poorly qualified board members.

Thank goodness I live in the Birmingham School district! However, I have been reading both sides of the BHSD issue since PATCH came to town. I have chosen to stay out of the conversation, until now.

There have been several unidentified "marvin's" over the many months who claim "misinformation" in Jenny's blogs, yet fail to point out any in their allotted 1500 words in this comment format. Why? Because her comments are correct? Why won't those "errors" be "corrected" with information from them?

As for the B20/20 data base, doesn't the One Bloomfield United have one also? What about the school district? They have all the student/alumni contact information. Same goes for the Township. Taxes, senior center, library, etc. People can buy and sell certain public data bases. All of the above groups gather data bases and will send out information that they want the receiver to know. The one they want you to know/to vote.

As for the comment by Neal, I'm sure B20/20 would not be "..furnishing your name to anyone in future elections..", they will, like all other groups, including One United Bloomfield and BHSD, legally be using the data base.. addresses.. to send the recipient information on the issues. Read it or not. Ultimately, the decision is made at the ballot box. Or is it? This issue seems to continue no matter the vote.
Just observing.....my opinion.

The majority of taxpayers in Bloomfield are being disenfranchised. That is a fact. The large tax bonds proposed since 2003 have been turned down, not by B2020, but, by the majority of voters in Bloomfield. Face the facts. Most people here do not want to spend huge amounts on a "new" school with the latest fad in education installed - team teaching. What accountability would there be? What benefit to students? What is the real total cost after interest over 30 years? We are smarter than that. Give up trying to shove these huge plans down our throats because you (The Bloomfield School Board and supporters) have made our town a laughing stock. Accept the wishes of the majority and renovate our buildings - which are empty, or have declining enrollment. It is a practical, logical choice. Use the "sinking funds" to maintain and fix. All of our schools are about the same age - are you going to ask for $100 million for each of those, also? Cara McAlister

I think it's important that those on the "recall list" are informed of all school board actions/elections so I and others can be sure to vote against a bond on a non-conventional election date. We, collectively as a community, voted against the new school and will continue to do so. This is the entire reason we wanted the board recalled - they are ignoring the majority of the voting population's wishes.

To Patrick who believes enrollment is crashing downward. Fact: Enrollment on State day count was exactly the same 2010 vs. 2011. 5,548.

Feeder enrollment (PK-8) is up +46. HS enrollment is -44. Wing lake is -2

Source: BHSD Building Headcount November 30, 2011

More numbers:
2002-2010
Students -213 (-3.7%)
Teachers -16 (-3.3%)
Other District Employees +7 (+1.3%)

Source: BHSD

President Mary Sue Coleman of University of Michigan had visitors in her office. 200 students Occupied her office and the slogan was "INSTRUCTION not CONSTRUCTION". I hope that BHSD students will ask for better education and not a nicer structure. Andover and Lahser national rating has improved in the last year using the time honored two school system. The "transition" to the unified building that will take 3-4 years will certainly wash away our recent achievement. Parents have to ask themselves if a larger swimming pool and a larger theater will improve the scholastic achievements of their kids? If a new education FNI method which was not tried and not approved any where should be tried on their kids? Will the 90 million dollars investment bring better high school graduates? We the NO NO people do not love our children less than you do. Use your common sense and join our grass root 20/20 movement.

Patrick -atn this point in time I don't want to pay for it -with a tax increase!!!

Part 1

The most important thing that we need to recognize is that we must defeat this Bond and vote NO. We cannot allow our elected officials to ignore us any longer.

That being said, I'm disappointed by some of the comments posted here so far, and feel I need to respond:

Marvin: Please elaborate on the "misinformation" stated by Jenny. I think the most dis-respectful thing anyone can do, is make accusations without backing them up with proof. Jenny on many occasions has explained the information we put out, and so have I. We have obtained all of this by means of FOIA, this information comes straight from the district. The voters have listened, and agree that what we are saying has substance. The only strategy that supporters of the board have invoked is character assassination, and I am disappointed you have taken part. Please make a detailed response that proves that Jenny has given any "misinformation" in this article. My mission is not to sound dis-respectful, but I will not stand and watch this character assassination any longer.

Part 2

Neal: Why do you suggest that anyone who signed the recall petition is being cheated by B2020? As Marcia has stated, you know as well as I do that BHSD, OBU, and B2020 collect databases. Secondly, you can buy the names, addresses, and phone numbers of virtually everyone within the BH community. That being said, anyone who signs our petitions live within the district. What's not to say that we may have purchased the list of everyone in the district (which again is legal, and is done all the time), and the recall signers merely help us sift out the "non-supporters", and the "hard NO" people. In my eyes this could be an advantage to you. Since you dislike our information, these well organized data bases will make sure you don't have to “suffer” to receive our so called “lies”. However having dealt with supporters of the board, I know for a fact that you would want to know everything we are sending out, so you know what you are dealing with. Then that raises the question, why complain at all? Are you just doing this to insight argument? Or are you just trying to participate in the character assassination of Jenny and B2020. Defiantly something to think about.

Part 3

Patrick: Your last comment (“why not have both”), concerns me. The duty of these elected officials are to listen to what their community wants. For nearly 10 years now, spanning over multiple elections, the people of Bloomfield Hills have clearly stated that they want two small high schools maintained. They did so by defeating funding for a new school 3 times, and voting in two sinking funds amounting in over $82 Million (interest added). This sinking fund money was meant to maintain our districts assets, including our high schools. After all of this the board neglected maintenance of our schools, their minds set on building a new mega school. Our schools are more than able to accommodate the students and their educational needs. The change we need is not in construction it is in instruction. I am a principled person, and I have watched elected officials in this district defy their constituents multiple times! You can not tell me that this is right. Despite what you have been told a new school will NOT bring more students, it will NOT raise productivity and test scores, and it most certainly will NOT save us money. If this is not enough information for you, please read through old blogs, newspaper articles, etc. to meet your needs. Another way is to FOIA documents from the district, and find out the specifics yourself. If that still isn't enough, contact one of us, and we'd be happy to answer your questions, if you remain civil.

Part 4

I would like to emphasize again the importance of the situation we face. We must vote NO on this bond, and send a clear message to our elected officials that we will not stand to be ignored! NO means NO!

-Michael Banerian
Lahser Student, 11th Grade

Part 1 - What "Bond" are you voting NO on? Last I heard the district was attempting to garner feedback regarding all the options over the next several months?

P.S. – Michael Jenny stated above “And the new high school is likely not to include a Library or Media Center” - completely false

A few facts that might help (provided by FNI and supported by the detailed drawings and report)

- The library is at the heart of the school. Given the importance of access to information in multiple media - print and digital, we thought it would be ideal to feature this space in the most central location. The library is on the second floor, away from the noise of the cafe, and main entry. However, it is prominently displayed overlooking the school commons. This is illustrated on pages 17 and 21 of our report.

Part 2 The library has nearly 4000SF of space for the collections, student research and presentations, and library staff. The size of the library although generous, was developed with an eye to value. Given the huge shift of learning materials from print to digital, there just isn't the need to store a huge print collection now, and there certainly won't be in 10 years, let alone 20 or 40. Therefore, in addition to the library space upstairs, there is a 2760 SF "knowledge market" or drop in space for research using computers, and collaboration on the ground floor. This allows students to access high end computing throughout the day without interrupting activities that may be going in the library. This was a need expressed multiple times by teachers and students. This space is illustrated on page 18 of our report.

Tremendous effort was put into the learning spaces, including multiple rounds of meetings with department heads over nearly a year of time, and a full day curriculum mapping workshop with teachers and administrators from both schools to test drive the design in progress, gather input on how the curriculum could play out in the spaces, and identify new opportunities that the design creates for teaching and learning. Pages 22-28 of our report illustrate the plans for the core learning spaces in great detail.

part 3 -

In addition, we worked with Barton Malow's technology group to identify how technology would enrich the learning spaces. These strategies are summarized in our report on page 27.

I understand very well the Yes people who want the best for their children/grandchildren. I have 4 children and 3 grandchildren who graduated from high schools in Michigan (5 from Andover). I have also experience as a teacher in WSU and UM where your children may land. Today there are not too many good jobs there. NO NO (20/20) want to invest in instruction, increase school year by about 40 days, allow more AP so that students will get directly to second or even third year of college and will not need remidial treatment in college. The famous International Academy must be our model. Early graduation from college is early graduation from post graduate school and early employment all of which are good for the students and good for America. Bringing new education methods FNI, new structures, new ideas are not necessary because we are doing scholstically better in the last two years. In the face of global competition you do not want to show a picture of your school but a respected diploma. There is no money for construction and instruction in the present format. Both Andover and Lahser passed Oakland inspection and were found sound. Modest renovation with availble funds will prevent the painful "transition". As a parent and teacher I ask parents to accept that scholastic achievement is the most important goal of a school. Join the common sense people and say NO to un necessary inefficient expensive consolidation of schools.

Part 1

Mr. Kaufman,
The bond I am referring to has not been formally announced yet by the district. However anyone can see, when looking at the time frame of the construction, that a bond will be put forth to pay for the new school, in either the May election or November election. That is unless the district plans on achieving the funds with on hand money, which would be highly irresponsible of them, and in almost all cases would be illegal; but I doubt they'd take that route.

Part 2

Second I find that when anyone ever quotes Jenny or B2020 they take it out of context, or do not give the full statement. The full quote you referred to is “the new high school is likely not to include a Library or Media Center, because your Bloomfield Township Library Board is proceeding to establish a "partnership" with the BHSD”. Jenny is not claiming that what she says is fact, merely giving her view point and quite frankly stating the obvious. The partnership between the BHSD and the Library board is highly inappropriate. Recent courses of actions between the two branches of government, suggest what Jenny is saying. Jenny has a basis to point out that this relationship may prevent the inclusion of a media center, or library in our school. This idea isn't even new, the old plans (from the November election of 2010) did not include a library either. Also you know as well as I do that the plans that you have in place now are not permanent, and are subject to change at any time. So while I am happy that you provided some information on the subject instead of a short response, I still think you continue to take comments out of context and make them into something they aren't.

Part 3

Now to shift the subject a bit I would like to address your plans for the “media center” and “library” that you have come up with. First of all you state that “Given the huge shift of learning materials from print to digital, there just isn't the need to store a huge print collection now, and there certainly won't be in 10 years, let alone 20 or 40.”. I am not sure the last time you visited Lahser, however if you see our “library of books” it is slim, which leads me to ask the question, what huge collection of materials in print you are referring to? The Lahser library is virtually empty, and has space just begging to be used. I find it funny that the district doesn't seem capable of trying to use its existing asset, and skips right to a new school building to “update” this portion of the school. This is an inefficient way to spend tax dollars, and will be a considerably higher expense on the tax payers than needed.

Part 4

Next I would like to address your comment saying: “The library is on the second floor, away from the noise of the cafe, and main entry.”. First of all, even though the Lahser Library is parallel to the cafeteria, the noise never travels over in a way that causes disturbances. This is because of one large glass barrier, a wide hallway, and another large glass barrier between the cafeteria and the library. Even when the hallways are full, the glass barrier is more than enough to prevent disturbances within the library; any student at Lahser will tell you that. On top of this, the main function of the library now, serves as a computer lab (which doesn't even take up half of the empty space of the library). This computer lab is surrounded again, by a huge glass wall. As you might guess this serves as yet another barrier to prevent disturbances within the library. Next I would like to point out that the main entrance of the school is nowhere near enough to the library to cause any sort of disturbance. On top of the barriers I have already listed, there is a very thick door barrier between the hallway near the library, and the hallway leading to the entrance hall, muffling any noises even further.

Part 5

Next I would like to comment on when you say: “there is a 2760 SF "knowledge market" or drop in space for research using computers, and collaboration on the ground floor. This allows students to access high end computing throughout the day without interrupting activities that may be going in the library.”. Put simply you are referring to a large computer lab. For some reason there is a large misconception that Lahser has an insufficient amount of computers. Currently Lahser has 4 large computer labs, one in the library, and the other three spread throughout the school. The fact that there are so many labs provides convenience for the teachers. The teachers almost always have access to a lab if needed, and they are close by the classrooms. Your plan however eliminates the other labs, and condenses them into one lab. This will cause obvious problems. One, you will cause more disturbances in the hallways by forcing teachers to walk entire classes of high school students through the halls and to the central lab, and believe me, we are a chatty bunch. This of course is counter intuitive to your first point. Second, you will have a much larger number of students, yet you condense into one lab, this will make availability of the computers drop, making it much harder for teachers to book the computers for use. This is an unnecessarily complicated, expensive, and burdensome plan, for an issue that is so easily solvable.

Part 6

Next I would like to comment on this statement: “This was a need expressed multiple times by teachers and students.”. First, I was part of the group of students which gave input into the new school plans. I never once throughout the whole meeting heard this brought up by any of the students. In fact at one point in the meeting we were asked “do you feel limited by what Lahser has to offer?” Everyone either sat and said nothing or said no; not one person said yes. I would also like to point out that students asked these questions, or that are in these discussion groups, were nearly all affiliated with board members, and supporters of the new school (being their parents). So in my mind this is a clear conflict of interest, and should be taken strongly into account when reviewing these “study sessions”. Also I would be willing to bet my reputation that there were not as many complaints from the students in those meetings that are implied, and any complaints made were greatly exaggerated.

Part 7

Next, of the many teachers I have spoken to about the issues in the school this was never an issue they mentioned. I also find it unfair to rely heavily on their input, when I know for a fact that there was not as much teacher input as claimed, and that most “suggestions” were presented by the teachers union representatives, or teachers with strong affiliations with the MEA (besides the fact that they are all members of the union). I'd like to point this out because the MEA has been behind this board and it's plan for a long while now, and so one could again see a conflict of interest.

Part 8

Lastly one of the biggest comments I take issues with is when you say: “Tremendous effort was put into the learning spaces, including multiple rounds of meetings with department heads over nearly a year of time, and a full day curriculum mapping workshop with teachers and administrators from both schools to test drive the design in progress, gather input on how the curriculum could play out in the spaces, and identify new opportunities that the design creates for teaching and learning. Pages 22-28 of our report illustrate the plans for the core learning spaces in great detail.”

Part 9

I have spoken with many teachers at Lahser about these so called “learning environments”. I was met with anger, and negative response. These teachers for the most part do NOT like this plan. I know for a fact that some have brought up their concerns, and have had them fallen on deaf ears. One of the biggest responses I have heard is “what happened to traditional classrooms?” and “Why should I be forced to work under another teacher of my same caliber?”. The merging of the two schools should come with major teacher layoffs, because of the mere idea of merging two schools it is a necessary course of action. However these learning environments literally safe keep most of the teachers jobs. This is unsustainable! No one wants to layoff their workers, but this plan makes it a must. Yet the layoffs, if any, will be subtle and allow most to keep their job. This is not cost effective. If your mission is really to consolidate, and have cost containment, the employees should not be exempt. This realization is becoming clear to the teachers, and you will find that the little support from them that you actually have, will dwindle.

Part 10

This plan you have does not work. It is broken, it does not contain costs, it creates more problems, it creates tax burdens, and the list goes on. On top of it all, the tax payers have voted these plans down multiple times, and have clearly spoken on the matter... maintain the two high schools that we already have. There is no better argument than that. I know that you will disagree, but I don't expect to convince you (Mr. Kaufman) of my point of view. What I do expect is for people to read what we have both said and make the right choice. That choice of course is to side with US. US not being B2020, US being the community, and the majority of the community has spoken, maintain our schools. We the majority of the community will not take this neglect any longer.

-Michael Banerian
Lahser Student, 11th Grade

I get very passionate about these things Patrick. My sleeping schedule is also still off from Christmas break. Thanks for noticing though.

My last comment about BHSD : Mr. Kaufman and the concept that he represents is like buying an expensive complex super computer for your 13 year old kid, a computer that has all the bells and whistles that the kid realy does not need. It is more a dream for Mr. Kaufman and his freinds than benefit for our students. There is no prooved educational value to toy media centers. We can bragg "Oh, what a fantastic, modern, elaborate, luxurious media center that we have.....". not the scholastic achievement and national recognition of our school! The International Academy has a very simple and not elaborate but functional media center. All the class rooms are puritan....But the teachers are fantastic. A a little hardship, a little inconvenience is good for the students. Finland, Shanghai, South Korea have no super media centers have big classes, about 40 kids, and are doing so much better than America the beautiful. US is #14 with all the money allocated to education, more than anybody globally. It is the damn mentality that what we need for success of our children is an elaborate luxurious 21 century media center and designer schools. We waste half of the education money on transportation, administration, consructions etc. the net money allocated fo US students to the #64 place among nations. Should we not be ashamed about public money that is wasted? NO NO means preferring traditional education which proved itself rather than an illusive scheme that does not put education first.

Michael,
I truly appreciate your zeal and interest in these issues. While we may disagree, I trust we can do so in a respectful manner. I have been involved in the facilities discussions since 2003...way back when you were in 2nd or 3rd grade. I sat on the original facilities committee that, after months of study and community input, formulated the 2 Schools on One Campus plan. Some folks disagreed, 2020 was created, the Mega School was coined, the community divided and here we are...8 years later! Remember, that plan was never brought to the community for a vote. If we look back at that time and plan I still firmly believe that it would have been tremendous for the district. We would have been able to keep our two small high schools, shared facilities would have created cost savings. Educational programs and offerings would have been preserved and enhanced. Travel time would have been drastically cut down. And best yet...the bond would be nearly paid off by now! But the school board listened to 2020 supporters and sadly removed that plan from consideration. Fast forward to today. Our district is faced with declining enrollment, dwindling funding and decaying, outdated facilities. The exhaustive process the community and district have been through has created a well-researched, thoughtful plan that will take our district forward.

Part 2
While previous bond proposals have failed, I believe the plan currently under consideration addresses the concerns from many no voters. Some being, not 100% new construction (repairing, updating what we have) focus on instruction, value for dollars spent, etc. The community has had ample opportunity for input and the board has listened. Is it perfect? No. Is it a brilliant melding of many differing viewpoints? Resoundingly YES!

I guess the bottom line for me is knowing that we must do something. We cannot afford to maintain our two smaller high schools. Period. Even when Andover and Lahser are combined, the total student population will not put the school in the "Mega" category. Our infrastructures are crumbling. We must act.

I have to believe that we all are working toward the same goal...a superior education for our students. To my thinking, that simply cannot happen in the existing facilities. It makes me sad to think that 2020, or as Dr. Barr says NONO people are already poised to fight a potential bond. It makes me believe that you all are NO just to be contrary.

The high schools are combining. That is a given and not up for vote. It is our task as a community to decide what the future of our high schools will look like. Everything from curriculum planning to Media Center, athletic venues to performing arts center, collaborative learning spaces to parking spaces, cafeteria to computer labs and so much more is addressed in the FNI schematic.

Sorry...Part 3
I implore the community to become educated on these important issues. Whenever the bond election happens, the outcome will be critical to the future of education in our district. Attend a community meeting, make your voice heard. And vote! Our students are our future and they deserve to learn in an environment that enhances their curricular as well as cocurricular experiences.

The original blogger talked about database. I made a comment about the same issue. As all of us can see, regardless of which side you're on, we're well off topic. I strongly urge people who want to help our schools (yes, you know which side I'm on) to notice what happened. Our goal is to get approval of what we need to do for the schools.

I don't believe I can change the mind of people still fighting elementary school consolidations, lost school board elections or people who, in my opinion, are saying I got mine, tough for you (Isaac told me to miy face in September that the people with kids in school should pay additional fees). I also feel that these people and others are fully entitled to their views. I'm not going to try to change your mind, it's totally okay and I'm not entitled to make everyone agree with me.

It's about getting people who care and want to preserve the quality of education in BHSD to vote and get their friends to vote. To people trying to side track us from this issue I merely say, "Have a good day, I've got work to do.,"

NONO.My exception to a "united " school is not related to my personal cost of the project. We, NONO 20/20 oppose the new structure because it will not improve scholastic achievement to our students who will do better in two smaller school, longer school year and upgrade of teachers and without a painful "transition" of 4 years. This is the reason that the Bond was rejected twice by a great majority. There are many seniors, unemployed in our community who already have difficulties to pay their property taxes. Some pay more taxes than what social security provides. The value of their homes dropped significantly and they have no where to go. Yet, for a good cause within an reasonable cost most NONO 20/20 will gladly pay the levy. Why should 68% of BHD residents pay for luxuries that have nothing to do with education? On the other hand as a parent you can donate to BHS foundation as much as you want. A dollar a day per student will create a 2 million dollar fund per year which could be used for teachers, lengthening school year etc. Are your children worth a dollar a day?

Thanks to everyone for their feedback. The FNI schematic for the proposed Bloomfield Hills High School does designate a library space. I asked Jenny to enter the comment stream and explain her position that the new construction will not have a library. She chose to send this in an email instead:

"The unfortunate FACT is that we taxpayers cannot trust our board to spend education tax dollars appropriately. We also cannot trust them to do what they SAY they are going to do. Once money is awarded to the district, Trustees have the RIGHT to vote to use it as they please. B20/20 exists to provide oversight for taxpayers."

Thanks Art for sharing Jenny's email. It is very enlightening. Very interesting that she chose not to reply to your specific question, but instead offered more of her divisive rhetoric.

Jenny, please do not speak for all taxpayers and pass your opinion off as FACT. The
whole purpose of electing a representative school board is that when elected, we
TRUST that they will act in the best interest of our schools and community. If they do not, then we have the prerogative of not re-electing them. It is a FACT that a majority of the community elected the current board, not the 2020 candidates who ran.

Jenny, please offer specific evidence of the board not acting in the best interest of
our students. Please show evidence of fiscal irresponsibility. Your sweeping statements are nothing but sour grapes and serve no purpose but to impugn the reputations of dedicated public servants.

Jenny's blog said: "....the new high school is LIKELY not to include a Library or Media Center, ..." and "..You might notice that the LAST failed mega school plan did NOT include a library or media center." (caps my doing)
OK...the observer in me says: since there will be 13 + more meetings to tweak the design, any current plan with a library/media center COULD change. I doubt that would happen after all this hoopla...some form of a "library/media center" will be kept plus I have not heard anyone say the last failed mega school plan had or did not have a library.
Amy said: "....we TRUST that they will act in the best interest of our schools and community. IF THEY DO NOT, then we have the prerogative of not re-electing them."
OK, the observer in me says: Even the One Bloomfield United people consider the fact that the administration may NOT act in the best interest...otherwise why have a prerogative?(some caps mine) B20/20 has several voting results to NOT TRUST.
Bottom line: IF the bond issue is going to be in MAY of 2012...the language needs to drafted/submitted for the ballot. What is the time line for that? The COMPLETE architectural plan should be finished, competitive bids received for the work, so the costs are more accurate. I don't think there should be "options" on the ballot. What is the total project and what is that cost and what is the financial need from the school taxpayers? No games! Know the WHOLE Project BEFORE the vote.

I have read several times that a high school issue has been before the voters more than once (3x). That last one being Nov. 2010. I also read that the school trustees hired a $800,000 ++ consultant BEFORE the vote was taken. When the Nov. 2010 vote tallied NO, the trustees continued with the consultants and with a plan in spite of the vote. That to me is a reason not to trust.
I like "chiming in".....no one else seems to "get all the information" before commenting. Do you have all the information, or just more than me? If we all knew everything, there would be no discussion about what is what. This is the way to learn.
Question: in these 13+ meetings, is there the opportunity to CHANGE any of the plans already designed? or are the plans set and these meetings are just to "show" the public what the design is, to inform them? You said: "...opportunity to make their voice heard (really?) and get the facts about the plan.." If the "facts" can change, because someone's voice was really heard, when will everyone know the END plan result? Before the vote?
Lastly, who is providing the financial figures for the "schematic plan"? Is that person/company knowledgeable about current local construction costs? What if those figures are not accurate? Many "projects" go over budget. What is BHSD budget? What contingencies are in place IF over budget? How can you say: "...costs will be detailed.."? The details are yet to be finalized/drawn/bid before the vote.

The election to the BHSEB of Joan Berndt is a symptom of the board itself. Rather than injecting new blood into the board we have an addition of a person that has no knowledge of numbers and has little old fashioned education experience. The board elected a rubber stamp. The the Eccentric was shocked about the board choice. I was not. This is how tyranny of the board is preserved. Vote again and again 7:0 for anything.

Frank Laurinec does not understand that there are time honored education methods. All his note reflects untested waters. As a matter of fact, Mr. Nair, an archtect wants to introduce new education methods that are imaginary, have no scientific experiance with. The 21 century technology is education is not there yet. Frank wants to experiment in a non scientific way on your kids....International Academy has no cyber education. Why not learn from their experience? Longer days and longer school year coupled with hand selected fantastic teachers all at a relatively low cost in a puritan school building. All global major educational achieving schools are similarly puritan including the school from which FNI Nair graduated from in India. The average class size was 40 students....