By: Joseph Maguire
Change—to exchange one thing for another thing, especially of a similar type.
Just over a year ago, the Lee County School Board decided to push forward with phase 1 of building High School NNN in Alva. The rallying cries of need, time to complete, and growth were cited across the board as the rationale behind the urgency of the push. Superintendent Bernier and his staff responded to concerns over spiraling costs with the project that the new approach to building was to prevent this cost overrun problem. Assurances were made regarding transparency and regular updates, as well as several board members and the superintendent assuring the public that should the costs change, they were prepared to reconsider the issue. The time has come to make that a reality.
A little over a year later, and on the cusp of our third superintendent in that time, many items remain unchanged.
High School NNN (Alva) still has the same concerns as before (safety, traffic, infrastructure, cost, etc.) It is still far away from the population it intends to serve leading to longer term costs for transportation and road infrastructure. The predictions over cost increases have come true with the costs continuing to climb.
The school board continues to collect revenue from the sales tax referendum (Change for Change) to construct and improve schools. A number of years ago the referendum was passed and included a provision to monitor and ensure that taxpayer funds were being spent wisely. A large concern, at the time, was the Bonita Springs High School project where poor planning, cost overruns, and significant construction delays occurred. The constellation of problems almost remained the same continuing with Gateway High School and Riverdale High School.
So what’s different?
The timeline for the new school has been extended by at least 2 years, it will not arrive as projected to address the growth needs. The cost for High School NNN has increased at least $15 million already and continues to grow. The school district is facing a substantial reduction in its five-year capital plan of close to $180 million due to reductions in sales tax, property taxes, and impact fees, the main sources of funding for their capital revenue.
From Bonita Springs High School to Gateway High School to Riverdale High School poor planning, cost overruns, and significant construction delays continue to occur despite promises and new approaches. With a newly elected superintendent, let’s break the cycle and make a change before High School NNN becomes yet another chapter in the continuing story of poor planning, cost overruns, and waste of your tax dollars. Change for Change need not be just a catchy marketing phrase, let’s work together to put it in action and change High School NNN.
