Letter to the Editor: Referendum ask does not meet community needs

By Josh Jessup

An Open Letter to the MS School Board, Dr. Lee, Community Members & Voters in the Mahomet-Seymour School District,

As you’re likely aware, I’m a lifelong resident of Mahomet and a graduate of Mahomet-Seymour High School and a parent of three Mahomet-Seymour students. You may also be aware that I’ve raised some concerns about the current direction of the Mahomet-Seymour School District’s building and facilities plans and the lack of any long-term, generational planning. To reiterate, I was given the privilege to meet with five of seven Board Members, two Co-Chairs of Bulldog Blueprint and Dr. Hall in December and January and I shared my concerns and some ideas with all of them at that time. I expressed my concerns with you in a letter in January and again in April of this year (both are attached for your review and reminder). And, since Dr. Lee began in June, I’ve had the opportunity to meet with him on several occasions and shared my concerns and visions with him as well. I also emailed the Board in July/August prior to and just after placing the current proposal on the ballot (also attached). I contended in January and still do – IT’S THE PLAN AND NOT THE PRICE TAG – that led to and may again lead to a failed referendum.

I’ve seen a few “vote YES for our kids” signs around town and I’ve received the most recent “Open Letter and Invitation from our superintendent” and it seems the strategy and messaging has not changed one bit…the information being shared and pushed publicly is completely true but not truly complete! The referendum is NOT a vote for or against kids!!! Kids are not pawns to be used to conjure up emotion and drama and incite people to fight for a cause – shameful! Let’s stick with the facts and allow people to make informed decisions on their own without the cloud of judgement or worry that they may be perceived negatively if they oppose your plan (or lack thereof). Here’s the facts: there is a bond question on the ballot to build a new Jr. High near Middletown Prairie for just under $60M – the KIDS are not on the ballot – this proposal is.

The messaging included in the mailer from the Superintendent indicates the ONLY way forward is to build a Jr. High – this is false and misleading! There were and are other options to be considered that have a similar cost (or less) that may prove to be more advantageous now and into the future financially and operationally. Some on the Board are plowing down this road with no destination and I fear it’s going to cost the District and this Community more in the long run.

The mailer that was funded (it appears) by the District provides limited information and an invitation to a couple of scheduled Open Houses. I hope those Open Houses are well attended and those that attend ask some questions that I’ve asked over and over and over and have NEVER heard any answers from the Board or anyone else.

Questions for Consideration:

• The Superintendent and several Board Members have indicated the District may move to multiple K-5 or 2-5 centers in the future – how does this proposal move the District and Community toward that goal?
• The Bulldog Blueprint Committee described the Community’s desire to have a new High School ultimately – how does an empty Jr. High and an empty High School help this community?
• If money and property were not an issue – would you build a Jr. High next to a K-2 building? Is that best practice or customary?
• Why wasn’t the proposal to build a new Elementary School near Middletown Prairie more carefully considered? It solves the space issue AND works into future planning for K-5/2-5 centers AND a new High school. Additionally, when it was brought up in August, the price to build a new Elementary School AND improve/renovate the Jr. High and Lincoln Trail for 10 years of use/growth, was $63M – not much more than what is being asked for now to build a new Jr. High with no other consideration for improvements/renovations to any other facilities.
• The same Board members who, for the last year, have tried to make us all believe the Jr. High is unsafe and unusable and argued against using the Jr. High & Lincoln Trail to split grades 6, 7 & 8 because it wasn’t safe for students to cross Division and State Streets voted to put “Option A” on the ballot in November. “Option A” says “new 6-8 overflow for 5^th at MSJH” with no money being spent for improvements or renovation at the Jr. High (attached screenshot from Board packet). How is that going to help the current situation and how does that address any safety or facility concerns the Board has shared and pushed the last year?
• The Superintendent’s mailer indicates this proposal “replaces the building with the greatest problems” – that’s not true, is it? The “Option A” indicates that the building will be used for overflow – so, it’ll need to be maintained and kept up for the foreseeable future, correct? There’s no money in this proposal for that. What will be the long-term cost to maintain the building at a ready state for overflow?

I absolutely love this community and I’m a Bulldog through and through! I want so badly to support anything this District needs; however, this plan (or lack of) is not something I can get behind – it’s the plan, not the price tag. When I met with Board members, school administration & took time to meet with the Bulldog Blueprint Co-Chairs – I said over and over I would have written the check that day if I believed in the plan. Unfortunately, NOBODY can tell me how this plan fits into a longer-range plan and how this will impact and affect the future of the District and Community in a positive way. In fact, in the Superintendent’s mailer, he says, “This is a good start for addressing our long-term needs. Once we take this step, we can determine what additional steps may be needed further down the road.” REALLY? Is that how you operate at home? Would you haphazardly pour a foundation or build the shell of a house without any regard for the future or what you may or may not need? This District and this Community deserve better!

To the community members that may be reading this – there are two Open Houses scheduled at the Jr. High on October 19 & October 24 from 6pm – 8pm – I hope you’ll be able to show up and ask appropriate questions so you can make an informed decision about this proposal.

And remember, please show up and VOTE!

Respectfully,
Joshua R. Jessup
Mahomet, IL