WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. August 8, 2006: A reader critical of the estimating process used to arrive at the school capital projects bond now being considered by the school district, notes why:
The School District intends to present a bond issue for roughly $70 MILLION. No one seems to have analyzed the line items estimated by a self-serving, unsupervised process, but here goes a short list of the type of expenses that the proposal is loaded with. Please note that while most proponents will tell you what our students "need," none seem too critical of the expense or the process by which expenses are determined.
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Testing of electrical panels - $17 to $43 K per school (note that repairs are NOT included)
Repairing a leak in a vestibule (Church) - $14,600
Replace Thermostats at Damman House (little house right next to High School) - $29,200
Interior finishes (floors and walls) at Damman House - $58,400
New windows at Damman House (there are about 45) - $306,600 . . . . about $6,000 per window! (Editor's Note this has been reported to have been halved after review on the Capital Project Committee).
New gas shut off valve for kitchen at Church St - $29,200
New Exterior Doors at Eastview (maybe 10 entrances) - $146,000
New Gym Lights at Eastview - $65,700
Ventilation for three (3) classrooms in Ridgeway will cost $87,600 ! That's only around $27,000 per classroom!
Most interesting . . . New Backflow preventers for domestic water service are necessary for each building at a cost of
Damman House - $29,200
Highlands - $98,700
Mamaroneck - $105,878
Ridgeway - $102,200
If you don't know, a backflow preventer is a simple valve that stops water from the grounds from leaking back into the drinking water by way of the sprinklers . . . the most expensive unit I could find (which is hospital and medical facility grade) cost about $400.
I understand that things are more expensive to build in our area than in many other areas of the country . . . but how much? If the town of New Coventry, Rhode Island can build a new elementary school for under $2 million, should we be spending $40 million because the kids “need” it and an architect (who works on a percentage) says it will cost $40 million. Why don’t you just drop your car off at the mechanic and tell him to do whatever is necessary, at whatever price. Then you can just skip on over to the bank and borrow money to cover whatever your expenses are. We need the school board to live up to their fiduciary responsibilities, and this bond issue is irresponsible at best.
