Mike DiMauro: Are the kids in Montville worth $7.56 a year?

Oct. 15—MONTVILLE — The enduring question for Montville residents who choose to vote next month:

Are the kids in town worth $7.56 a year?

Perhaps in the good ol' days, this query would have been considered rhetorical. But now? The answer honestly may be, "it depends whose kid it is."

This is why everyone in the town whose welcome signs greet motorists with "we're proud of our schools" needs to be educated about two questions on the ballot.

Question I asks whether residents will approve $7 million for school infrastructure projects, including a roof and boiler replacement at Tyl Middle, window replacement at Mohegan Elementary and fire alarm panel replacement at Murphy Elementary, among other projects.

Question II asks whether residents will approve $1 million to fix the tennis courts and track at the high school.

I find it curious that two questions are required, given that school projects belong under one umbrella. Put it this way: If it's on school property, it's part of the educational process and should be considered as such. Besides, is there really a fundamental difference between $7 and $8 million, when bond considerations would be essentially the same?

According to monetary figures issued by the town, if both questions are approved, the tax impact on the median valued single-family home in Montville ($147,490) is no more than $7.56 over the next 20 years.

Hence the question: Are the kids worth what amounts to half a cup of coffee at Starbucks?

"There's a sentiment in town that there's some pushback on the overall cost," said parent Jen Vogt, whose son plays on the tennis team. "People are feeling pinched. We've read things like 'why not become a magnet school and let the state pay for it?' People may not be aware of the questions on the ballot or the issues associated with them."

And now in the ever noble concept of making them aware ...

The tennis courts are unplayable at a time when interest in the sport, based on the number of kids playing last spring, has never been higher. Yet the kids were bussed to Camp Oakdale for practices and matches (that comes with a cost, too) because the courts were deemed unsafe.

The Camp Oakdale tennis courts are receiving an upgrade with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, although four of the six courts will be used for pickle ball, leaving only two courts for tennis. Translation: If the town votes down the second question, tennis players will have no place to play in town. Two courts aren't enough.

The 16-year-old track, meanwhile, looks perfectly functional from the bleachers. Except it's not.

Cross country and track coach Steve LaBranche said earlier this week there are drainage and weed issues in lanes 1, 6 and 8. Cracks in the perimeter are forming, which will lead to tears in the rubber. One long jump pit isn't usable because of a six-inch hole in the takeoff platform. Rain causes pooling on the track which freezes in winter and affects the rubber and asphalt underneath.

"My biggest concern," said LaBranche, who happily reported there are more than 80 kids in the program, "is that much like the tennis courts, if we delay fixing this, we don't have another option. There's no place else to go."

Ah, but LaBranche unwittingly alluded to a burgeoning issue within Montville: There IS someplace else to go.

Montville High's enrollment has plummeted because families are choosing tech schools, vo-ags and St. Bernard. Part of that reason is crumbling facilities that, like it or not, sustain the town's reputation: "Well, what do you expect? It's Montville."

"Kids come into school every day and see this stuff," parent Karen Duhamel said. "It's harder to take pride in your school when you go to other schools and see what they have compared to you. We want to turn that around."

Montville is turning that around with some great hires: Rob Alves and Ken Daniewicz at the high school and new Tyl principal Greg Gwudz. They are all Montville guys with sports backgrounds, using the sporting concepts of teamwork, camaraderie and unity to rebuild school spirit one kid at a time.

Their jobs become harder when the physical environments around them are less than. As in: less than everywhere else.

Full disclosure: I get the burden taxpayers feel. There is nobody else out there angrier than yours truly right now about a lot of things related to money. I'm growing weary of prices for everything soaring like something off Aaron Judge's bat.

But this is $7.56 a year here. This is not a one or the other question. It's both. Town residents will send a declarative message to the kids next month:

We care about you.

Or we don't.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro