MC taxpayer opposes wasteful school, Hoover Ridge spending

Editor:

Madison County School Superintendent Brenda Tanner graciously gave me a tour of the Madison County High School complex, explaining the anticipated work and improvements presently under discussion by the school board. Dr. Tanner stressed that the building is 50 years old, its main sewer line needs replacing, its heating/air-conditioning system, though in excellent condition, is considered inefficient, the lighting needs upgrading and the windows need better “R factors.”

But having owned and operated several large apartment buildings and housing projects during the last years, I must say that MCHS is in very good condition.

Would it not be more cost effective to:

• Change the light bulbs to a higher wattage instead of changing the whole light fixture.

• Call in several glass companies to offer and state the energy savings by replacing the existing windowpanes with a higher R factor panes.

• Ask our local contractors to evaluate the present boiler/cooling equipment instead of engaging high prices and fast-talking out of town “advisers” who may have a very serious conflict of interest.

Why does the board need all these high priced advisors that may have a conflict of interest, instead of keeping things simple, down to earth and basing its decision on common sense?

In regard to Dr. Tanner’s plan to build a new high school, she agreed with me that the student body was a constant 1,850, while the number of teachers increased in the last five years. Regrettably, Dr. Tanner does not have any demographic study and growth projections that would be grounds for a larger capacity high school to meet future needs. I get the distinct impression that the need for improvements or a new larger building is not supported by facts, but rather by the desire to be courted by groups of expensive advisers who are supporting for obvious reasons the board’s desire to build a white elephant.
I also just learned that the county spent $8,042.49 for fertilizer on the 15 acres of soccer fields at Hoover Ridge. That is $536.17 per acre for spreading 240 units of nitrogen, 280 units of phosphorus and 210 units of potash.

I wonder who spends $536.17 for fertilizing their one-acre back yard? The county applied 10 times more on fertilizer than Virginia Tech recommends for Madison’s pastures. Not only is this a waste of public money, but our supervisors lead the way in pollution of the Chesapeake Bay.

Herb Putz
Madison County