Letter To The Editor: BHSD Heading Into Expensive Plan That Doesn't Address Academics

Let's keep in mind that the $64 million is only Part 1 of a much more costly plan. And this figure does not include any interest.

The combined total enrollment of Lahser and Andover will be approximately 1,600 students.

When we divide $64 million by 1,600 students, we see that the project will cost $40,000 per student. Does this make sense for “remodeling and repairs?” What do other schools spend?

What right do we have to leave debt to those who buy our houses? Why not use the money we have in the bank that now earns less than 1 percent interest?

This total waste of money is absolutely outrageous. Contractors are already making proposals. When were bid requests issued?

Mr. Derderian certainly does not speak for 20/20. Most of us have never seen Mr. Derderian at any recent meetings.

20/20 members do not speak with one voice. We have no “czar” or puppet-master, as do other organizations. From the beginning, I have favored one outstanding high school that would have more subjects and in more depth, rather than two high schools with more limited offerings and with duplicate administrations.

How many of our U.S.-born Bloomfield high school graduates in 2011 were fluent in a foreign language after 10 or more years in this school district? Answer: Pathetically few. In Western Europe, almost every graduate can speak at least one second language, and many are capable in a third.

For more than $22,000 per student, all of our most capable students should excel in math, science, at least one foreign language and also a musical instrument. Yes, I would favor a performing arts center in our district, but one that we saved for, or have cash to build, not one that is built from bond issue monies.

Instead, we are wasting our tax money on duplicate high school administrations and triplicate middle school administrations. The 30 students at the farm and the students in questionable courses at the Model School should all be in the one “combined” high school at Lahser.

To accomplish these changes, we need board members and a superintendent who are grounded in economic reality, not communicators, schmoozers and fuzzy thinkers who always vote unanimously on every issue. This is the North Korean model, not the way we do things in the good old U.S. of A.

Richard Rosenbaum,

Bloomfield Hills