I write to oppose the ill-advised second referendum of the Cape Henlopen School District; despite having failed in their first attempt to persuade district voters to tax themselves to fund a bevy of unspecified projects, the school board and administration executives have refused to hear voters’ call for transparency and honesty.
The Cape administrators’ message is loud, if not clearly rational: We need more money, lots more – trust us to spend it well.
I would like to make some suggestions for these well-paid executives ahead of their future referenda – because there will be future school tax referenda:
• Try managing your budget as other Delaware school districts have done – use your budgeted dollars wisely
• Establish priorities for future projects that have as their primary goal enhancing the education of our students, who are sadly falling further and further behind kids around the country
• When you make proposals to district voters, be specific, transparent and honest – I suggest holding multiple public meetings to address voters’ concerns and questions
• Forget the natatorium idea – it was a bad, frivolous proposal – concentrate instead on improving education.
It may be time for the Cape Henlopen District superintendent and the school board that backs him to resign – and leave the future governance of public education here to those who care about our young students.
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