'Proposition S' school bond issue: 5 reasons to vote 'No'

I urge you to vote "no" on the proposed $220 million SPS bond as the district has only demonstrated a want, not a need.

First, area districts typically ask voters to approve large bonds to accommodate substantial enrollment increases. However, since October 2019, SPS K-12 enrollment has decreased by 1245 students with another 662 full-time online. Those 1907 vacant seats are equivalent to one entire high school.

There is a high probability that SPS K-12 enrollment at the district's physical sites will continue to decline as more parents/guardians choose private schools, homeschooling, and online options for their children.

Second, it is misleading for SPS to say that you will not pay additional property taxes as reassessment this year will reflect significant increases in real estate values. For residential real estate, every $1,000 increase in market value equals an increase of $10.37. For example, a $30,000 increase in market value equals a $311 additional tax owed.

Moreover, interest rates have risen and will affect the payouts for this bond.

Third, prior such costly "investments" in facilities have not produced measurable academic improvements. The recent Annual Performance Report ranked SPS 27th, a standing which is lower than most area schools.

SPS has recently adopted a new strategic plan so, before embarking on a questionable $220 million spending spree on yet more new buildings, there should be a focus on implementing the plan and assessing the results.

Fourth, for those building deficiencies cited by some, the answer is better ongoing maintenance, not demolition and new construction. If these new facilities are subsequently similarly neglected, then taxpayers will again be subject to demands for replacement at ever higher levels of expenditure. In this $220 million bond, only three schools are to be either rebuilt or significantly renovated.

Fifth, there are major factors which are more likely to drive further parents/guardians to remove their children from SPS than older buildings. Student discipline issues, which have not been effectively addressed despite official acknowledgment, and divisive classroom content should be obvious starting points for the board and superintendent.

Buildings don't teach.

Focus on the basics.

Raise the bar.

Carl Herd taught math in SPS for nearly 30 years and served on the 2022 Community Task Force on Facilities.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: 'Proposition S' school bond issue: 5 reasons to vote 'No'