A decade's worth of neglected maintenance and underfunding, paired with rapid growth and demographic change, has left Spotsylvania County's school system crippled, and facing an uncertain future.
Here's another clue for the BOS -- Remember all of the new homes, condos and apartments you have approved and are under construction? They will include a large number of students who will be expecting an education in Spotsylvania County Schools. Is there a plan? Is new growth paying its share?
Like I said yesterday, these things aren’t sexy and therefore people are okay with deferring them.
I’m having a hard time believing anyone on the BOS is surprised by the fact these projects exist and have been deferred.
That price tag is shocking because they’ve been ignoring what’s been necessary for decades.
Like I said yesterday - putting things off makes them more expensive.
Spotsylvania spent over $1.4 million in CARES funds on bipolar ionization equipment at the start of the pandemic.
I don’t think it was done will ill intent - people were so desperate to get kids back in their seats in schools. And even more desperate to “see those smiles.”
But the safety on this newer technology was questionable back then and it’s now been proven it doesn’t help. In fact, it can exasperate certain conditions in people.
That was money that should have been spent on updating HVAC systems appropriately. With proven technology. It was a missed opportunity and a grave one at that, IMO.
Having walked through the halls of Chancellor Middle none of what you reported surprises me. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a mold issue based on what I’ve seen. Humidity issues causes that.
It also causes dust mites to breed. If you have mold or dust mite allergies and spend most of your day breathing them in, you’re never going to feel well.
Want to fix the absentee problem? FIX YOUR BUILDINGS.
I’m 1000% okay with spending my tax dollars on fixing our schools with technology that is safe and proven to work.
Frankly, politics has gotten into this mess. It’s time for people on all sides to stop it and relearn the value of public education.
I’d also like to say there are some teachers in Spotsy who understand how awful viruses are and how bad the HVAC systems are in their buildings and want to make sure their students are breathing better air.
At the start of the pandemic they were allowed to have a portable air filter in their classrooms. Most teachers have gotten rid of them by now.
Some teachers haven’t, and it has been really upsetting (though, not surprising) to learn that the replacement filters are no longer supplied. I know this because I ordered some off a teacher’s Amazon list at the start of this year.
The problem of deferred maintenance is not limited to any one jurisdiction and is certainly not limited to schools. Water and sewer systems are in desperate need of maintenance plans, but those are hard to fund as well. Out of sight, out of mind. And when something breaks, emergency procurements and sole sourcing costs taxpayers plenty.
Here's another clue for the BOS -- Remember all of the new homes, condos and apartments you have approved and are under construction? They will include a large number of students who will be expecting an education in Spotsylvania County Schools. Is there a plan? Is new growth paying its share?
Like I said yesterday, these things aren’t sexy and therefore people are okay with deferring them.
I’m having a hard time believing anyone on the BOS is surprised by the fact these projects exist and have been deferred.
That price tag is shocking because they’ve been ignoring what’s been necessary for decades.
Like I said yesterday - putting things off makes them more expensive.
Spotsylvania spent over $1.4 million in CARES funds on bipolar ionization equipment at the start of the pandemic.
I don’t think it was done will ill intent - people were so desperate to get kids back in their seats in schools. And even more desperate to “see those smiles.”
But the safety on this newer technology was questionable back then and it’s now been proven it doesn’t help. In fact, it can exasperate certain conditions in people.
That was money that should have been spent on updating HVAC systems appropriately. With proven technology. It was a missed opportunity and a grave one at that, IMO.
Having walked through the halls of Chancellor Middle none of what you reported surprises me. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a mold issue based on what I’ve seen. Humidity issues causes that.
It also causes dust mites to breed. If you have mold or dust mite allergies and spend most of your day breathing them in, you’re never going to feel well.
Want to fix the absentee problem? FIX YOUR BUILDINGS.
I’m 1000% okay with spending my tax dollars on fixing our schools with technology that is safe and proven to work.
Frankly, politics has gotten into this mess. It’s time for people on all sides to stop it and relearn the value of public education.
And valuing it means putting money into it.
I’d also like to say there are some teachers in Spotsy who understand how awful viruses are and how bad the HVAC systems are in their buildings and want to make sure their students are breathing better air.
At the start of the pandemic they were allowed to have a portable air filter in their classrooms. Most teachers have gotten rid of them by now.
Some teachers haven’t, and it has been really upsetting (though, not surprising) to learn that the replacement filters are no longer supplied. I know this because I ordered some off a teacher’s Amazon list at the start of this year.
To those teachers who are trying, thank you.
The problem of deferred maintenance is not limited to any one jurisdiction and is certainly not limited to schools. Water and sewer systems are in desperate need of maintenance plans, but those are hard to fund as well. Out of sight, out of mind. And when something breaks, emergency procurements and sole sourcing costs taxpayers plenty.