In another extremely low voter turnout for a Liberty area election, Liberty ISD voters rejected the $18.27 million bond election. Liberty Dispatch continues to ask voters who did not vote in this last school bond election to take an active role in determining the near future of our schools. This bond issue deserves a larger voter turnout. It deserves a second chance. In the meantime, go and ask to look at the administration building and ask to look at the high school labs that were built with 1980's technology. We considered Superintendent Dr. Cynthia Lusignolo's recommendations and quietly agreed until two days before the last day of voting. We believe the assessment stating that the upkeep and maintenance to the district’s oldest facilities have fallen behind over the years as past school boards have focused on different priorities is a correct one. We also believe that anyone who has been in the old administration building knows it is a money pit and probably one of the worst administration buildings in East Texas. No more money needs to be wasted on a building that wasn't that great when some of our grandparents went to classes there. But don't take our word for it, seeing is believing.
In an effort to make sure this bond issue was not thought of as some kind of "wish list", Dr. Lusignolo asked a 30-member citizens panel to study the district's facilities for several weeks and this proposal is the result. While resistance to spending taxpayer money in such unusual economic times is understandable, the need for the work the panel lists is still a reality. The poor conditions of those facilities where work was planned will only get worse and more expensive if put off. If we want to look back and second guess past budgets, Liberty Dispatch would say the truly conservative approach to this kind of issue would have been to have budgeted more for maintenance each year and to have stuck with an improvement program. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. We believe conservatives who actually survey the conditions of the schools will see the best thing to do from this point forward is to borrow money at these low rates, get the schools back up to speed and then institute a proactive maintenance program with an untouchable budget that doesn't get lost when optional projects are discussed.
The district’s top administrator is new. She doesn't have a reputation for blowing money, but for a straightforward problem solving approach that is open to the community's suggestions. Unfortunately, she had less than 20 folks show up at the six public meetings and tours to view the facilities. From what we have seen and heard it seems like we are all fortunate to have her here, but just as we should want the children in school in Liberty now to be well equipped for success, we should give this leader the tools to lead the next generation with too.
Finally from a personal note let us say all of our kids are out of school and we will fight to keep taxes low, but this bond issue is a necessity. Don't take anyone's word for it. Go see for yourself. This is not a drive-by issue, but an issue that deserves more attention.
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I voted for the bond issue, but would be more enthusiastic in a new bond issue if we would go ahead and relocate the administration building over by the middle school and the high school. There is plenty of land there to build it, Rather than pay to tear down the existing administration building we could use it for storage for a few years.
How can you call spending this kind of money "conservative" Liberty Dispatch?
This new Superintendent is really cleaning up a mess that past Superintendents and school boards left her. If she can't get it done, the next one will have to try. LISD has fallen behind in some areas and te only way to catch up is to borrow money (at a great rate however).
Letting things fall apart and get obselete are not "conservative".
Had past decisionmakers and planners been conservative the bond issue would not be needed. But given the current situation, fixing the things up that are suggested and updating the admin and the science labs at the low interest rates available right now is the next best thing.
I like what some said before: Obamacare should help to eliminate the hospital district tax and if no Obamaschool funds are available we can continue paying our increased local taxes to support our kids while Obamacare and federal taxes takes care of our sick. I have no kids and will gladly pay the extra money until we get back to where we need to be.
Liberty Dispatch stinks. Always for Republicans. Always against the Picketts. Always ranting about Chip or Greg or Little. I like improving the hospiatl and our schools are fine like they are.
Akins; you aren't the only one who has seen and experienced some things that shouldn't be experienced in the Liberty jails. This jail has had problems for years. It is about time someone challenge their behavior.
This has nothing to do with conservative or liberal. So they chose a 30 member citizens panel!! Whoop dee doo. Did you really think they would come to any conclusion other than to do what those within the school wanted done? That is an age old tactic, it has been done in Dayton and, more recently, by the Hospital District. At least be honest and see it for what it is.
Anyone on the school board for more than a couple years is responsible for the lack of
proper maintenance, and should resign.
The facilities are in bad shape. But don't spend money on the football field and other athletics at a time when the economy is like it is.
"Wish list?" That is exactly what it was. It needs to be cut way back.
I like the idea of consolidating. Why not go ahead and move the administration building if it has to be built from scratch? Maybe even look into the Senior Citizen's Building (the old bowling alley) and paying money for them to relocate. Either way, the idea we can level that old outdated money pit of a building later and use the land for parking fo the football field is a good idea. It doesn't cost anymore to do it that way.
No more taxes-school or hospital or water district!
I really enjoy reading this site. You analyze the news others "report"(others sometimes invent). I don't always agree with your opinions but they are always food for thought.
I agree with the last post. Your analysis helps me... I agree with the last post. Your analysis helps me to Youngblood, Buchanan, and Associates are up to.
Use hafta ax Misser Piket ifn when use wanna dew sumthin to da skool.
We really are at the whim of people like the Picketts if we continue to allow his 500 people to go to the polls and dominate the elections. This is not cheating like some imply, it IS taking advantage.
Here is a simple formula for those who follow local politics:
Akins - "for" something
Archer - "against"
Buchanan - "against"
Youngblood - "against"
Choose ye this day who ye will serve (with)
Mr. Akins,
I saw Chip Fairchilds comments and rants about you on i-dineout. My big question is this, how can he and his brother Russell still be walking the streets after murdering (burning up) that school teacher in a fire ob Russell property? How can Chip Fairchild be using Billy Tidwell and his department for illegal wiretaps of you and others without criminal charges being assessed against Fairchild? Is Billy Tidwell helping Fairchild with the illegal wiretaps?
I love it when I see those weirdos on i-dineout go after you with their lies. That is a testament of how strong you are and how weak they are. We have followed your work for years here and enjoy it much. You truly are a "king maker". Thank you...
Why is Billy Tidwell allowing Chip to text women and ask them to send him pictures of their breast. It is also alledged that Tidwell fired Chip for theft years ago. What does Chip have on on Billy?
Youngblood is a kingmaker too. Whoever he is against becomes king. He fought that needless hospital district so hard it passed; it grew; and it thrives. He helped Greg Arthur and Chip Fairchild at every turn, and they no longer have their jobs. Queen, I mean kingmaker, Allen - keep posting comments about Ray Akins and Akins accusers may end up jobless, broke, and/or n prison.
I feel very sorry for the children of this area who have to grow up listening to uneducated adults rant and rave about issues that they are clearly misinformed about. Mr. Akins I do not agree with you on every issue you write about, but you are right on the money on this one with one exception. The 30 member panel was made up of volunteers, we were not appointed. We were members of every walk of life and believe me, not everyone agreed on every issue, but we all agreed our children deserved better. To all the folks who say everything is fine and leave it alone, you must not care about educating the children in the district, you must not take pride in your community and you certainly don't plan for the future. These children are our future so unless you want to be neglected and told everything is fine in your time of need when you get older, you may want to consider investing in the future. That investment would be in the children and the schools they attend. Don't let what you have heard from you neighbor influence what you think. Think for yourself, but like every important discision you make, make sure you have all the facts, then cast you vote. If every voter in LISD took the time to make on informed discision, we would be in the middle on construction as we speak. If you don't have all the facts don't say anything because my child may be listening.
The ones complaining about the bond issue are probably the same ones with their hands out crying for money from the County State and federal government. Why should you fix the school. education is not important when the governemnt takes care of you.
I love it when someone says our children are our future. I don't see how they can be out past.
Taking pride in a community involves more than wasteful spending during an economic downturn. That is the thing about those who work in government and nonprofits: they never met someone else's dollar that they wouldn't like to spend.
Cut out the parts of the wish list that are not necessary and it might pass.
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